Blackburn Rovers find themselves in a precarious position in the Championship table right now.
Last season, the Ewood Park club only missed out on a place in the play-offs on goal difference.
A positive start to the current campaign has given way to more uncertainty. Despite a change in head coach, with John Eustace replacing Jon Dahl Tomasson, they are still on a poor run of form.
That has seen the Lancashire outfit dragged into a relegation battle, at the wrong end of the Championship table.
As a result, there is no guarantee Blackburn Rovers will be a second-tier side next season.
If that happens, it will of course have consequences for the squad, as key players will surely attract attention from elsewhere.
So with that in mind, we’ve taken a look at three players who would no doubt leave Blackburn Rovers in the summer transfer window, if they are relegated to League One this season.
Sam Szmodics’ goals will have attracted interest
Despite his side’s overall struggles, Sam Szmodics has enjoyed an outstanding individual campaign this season.
The attacking midfielder already has over 25 goals to his name in all competitions, and has already hit the 20-goal mark in the Championship alone. Given how important goalscorers are these days, that would make him an appealing target for many clubs.
If Blackburn Rovers do go down, it would therefore be incredibly difficult for them to hold onto him, considering the offers that might come in. Szmodics himself no doubt knows as well he is too good to be playing League One football after a season such as this, so a parting of the ways would surely be inevitable.
Sam Gallagher is among Blackburn Rovers’ highest earners
As things stand, Sam Gallagher will see his contract expire at the end of this season, although the club do have the option to extend that deal by a further 12 months.
However, the striker is currently among the club’s highest earners. With finances already tight, and given they would inevitably take another blow in the event of relegation, that could make it difficult for Blackburn Rovers to extend his deal.
Even if they did, it would surely be with a view to cashing in on him while they had the chance. Indeed, Ipswich Town reportedly saw numerous bids for his services rejected in the January transfer window.
Tyrhys Dolan is attracting interest from elsewhere
Another Blackburn Rovers player who is set to be out of contract at the end of this season is Tyrhys Dolan.
The club do however, also have the option to extend the 22-year-old’s contract by a further 12 months. But with negotiations having been going for some time now, seemingly without a breakthrough, it remains to be seen whether that is something either party would consider the best move.
Regardless of whether they did or not, Dolan would likely have opportunities at a higher level if Blackburn Rovers did go down. The likes of Luton Town have recently been linked, and so it is hard to imagine he would stay at Ewood Park, in the event of relegation, when he may have more appealing offers elsewhere.