Exclusive: Blackburn Braced for Lewis Travis Departure with Derby Leading the Chase

Blackburn Rovers are braced to lose captain Lewis Travis sooner rather than later, SportsBoom sources can reveal.

The Rovers’ skipper only has a year left on his current deal and talks over a new deal between the two parties have stalled.

SportsBoom sources understand Derby County are the frontrunners to land the 27-year-old’s signature after a number of Championship clubs enquired about the midfielder’s availability this summer.

Wrexham, back in the second tier for the first time since 1982, were tempted with a swoop for the defensive midfielder before interest cooled.

Coventry City have also been linked with a move for Travis, with Frank Lampard keen to bolster the options at the heart of his midfield.

But a move to the Rams would see Travis reunited with boss John Eustace, who is a huge admirer of the player after his year-long stint at the club.

If Derby fails to agree a fee with Rovers then the player will be free to sign a pre-contract with the club in January ahead of becoming a free agent next summer.

BIG BLOW

Losing Travis would put a dent in boss Valerian Ismael’s plans for the new campaign. 

Travis has spent over a decade in Lancashire having moved to the club from Liverpool in 2014.

He became club captain in 2022, months after penning a long-term deal at the club. 

The following summer the club rejected a bid from Millwall for Travis before a short-term loan deal in 2024 saw him help Ipswich Town return to the Premier League for the first time in over two decades.

Ismael revealed Rovers offered him a new deal over a month ago, but it is a problem of the club’s own making for not moving sooner to tie him down to a fresh contract.

The club are resigned to losing him at the end of his current deal and are understood to want to receive a fee for their captain, who led the side out for their season curtain-raiser at West Bromwich Albion at the weekend.