Rovers are yet to announce their retained list for the crop of Under-18s who are coming to the end of their two-year scholarships.

Captain Isaac Whitehall and defender Jake Garrett, who has missed much of the season through injury, are the two players so far to have been offered, and signed, professional terms with the club.

Full back Dan Pike is understood to be in line for a deal, having become one of a number of players to have impressed in the run to the FA Youth Cup semi-finals, and latterly stepped up to play for Billy Barr’s Under-23s.

But one man whose future at Ewood Park is yet to be resolved is winger Luke Brennan. He has impressed, playing from the left flank, in the Youth Cup campaign that saw him net in the opening round win over Newport County, and the quarter-final success against Arsenal.

The 18-year-old has managed an impressive seven assists in 12 Under-18s league matches, and also been involved for the Under-23s on seven occasions.

Brennan has been with the club for over a decade, and was expected to be one of the players who would be offered professional terms. That process however, has been held up by the coronavirus shutdown which has brought an end to the Academy games programme.

That has curtailed Rovers’ Under-18s and Under-23s league fixtures, as well as a possible tilt at the Premier League Cup, in which Rovers were through to the knockout stages.

However, there remains an intention to finish the FA Youth Cup semi-finals and final, if possible, with Rovers due to meet Manchester City, with Manchester United facing Chelsea in the other last four tie.

Brennan’s future has since him linked with a move to Leeds United, by Football Insider, who say the Yorkshire club are looking to take advantage of his contract situation.

Rovers have been proactive with contracts in recent times, not least since losing Connor Mahoney to Bournemouth after relegation from League One for a compensation fee of around £400,000, and then Callum Wright to Leicester City in January 2018 for an undisclosed fee.

But Brennan is the latest youngster to have attracted attention, with Leeds keen to add him to their youth ranks, as well as Linfield’s Charlie Allen.

The other players whose scholarships are coming to an end are Flavien Boyomo, Sam Burns, James Connolly, Jordan Eastham, Dan Pike, Jalil Saadi, and Chanka Zimba.

Striker Zimba, who has been in and out of the side this season, spent time on trial with Sunderland in March, though no deal was forthcoming.

Rovers will also try and strike a deal with Manchester City for D’Margio Wright-Phillips, the star of their quarter-final win over Arsenal.

The teenager joined on loan from City in February and caught the eye with his pace from the right wing, with Rovers keen to turn that in to a permanent move.

“I’m not sure what the future plans are, but he’s given himself a good chance here,” said manager Mike Sheron on the possibility of an extended stay for Wright-Phillips.