How Lewis Travis feels about leaving Blackburn Rovers after Derby County bid - Valerien Ismael has made it clear | OneFootball

The skipper isn't hoping to stick around at Ewood Park for too much longer.

Blackburn Rovers captain Lewis Travis has asked to leave the club amid interest from Derby County, Valerien Ismael has revealed.

Heading into the final year of his contract, this summer was always going to be a pivotal moment in the 27-year-old's career, and for the chief Blackburn decision-makers.

The threat of Travis leaving for nothing next summer looms large; a situation that Derby are trying to capitalise on by tempting the two to part ways early. The Times reported on Tuesday that Rovers had rejected a £1.5 million bid, plus add-ons, from the Rams for the midfielder.

He played 81 minutes against West Bromwich Albion on the opening day of the season, but was an unused substitute for Blackburn's EFL Cup upset loss to League One Bradford City on Tuesday evening. It was after this contest that the French manager revealed the captain's desire to depart from Ewood Park before the end of the window.

Lewis Travis asks to leave Blackburn Rovers amid Derby interest

"He has asked to leave the club," Ismael revealed, via the Lancashire Telegraph. "We say that if the price is right for the club, then we will see. But at the minute, it's not the case. When a player is out of contract or has one year left on his contract, he looks after himself.

"It's not only about Travis, it's about the football world. He is focused on himself, which is understandable, but we are doing the same as a club. We have a clear idea of what we want. Either we keep our captain or someone matches the price we expected."

Blackburn have already sold another key player (Callum Brittain) to another of their second-tier rivals (Middlesbrough) earlier in the summer. "It's difficult as I say," said the 49-year-old on the challenges of holding onto his players.

"It's hectic, but I can understand when you get a massive offer like he received. The last couple of years, we missed the chance to extend the contract earlier, especially for a key player like that.

"Now we were trying to change the situation, to resolve the situation, but it was not possible anymore. That's why we are in that situation now.

"We made big [contract] offers for the players [Brittain and Travis]. The club pushes the limit for those players, but at some point, if another club is coming and puts the double on the table, it will be difficult to deal with that."

Blackburn have to face up to Lewis Travis reality

Cashing in feels like the only option left to Rovers at this point. Ismael's statement has revealed their hand to Derby and any other clubs that are potentially interested in Travis. His price isn't going to get any higher, and the chances of him re-upping his deal in just less than a year's time feels pretty slim.

For both the club and its supporters it is a frustrating situation, one that is only made more aggravating by the preventability of it. Like the Frenchman said, Blackburn could've looked to address Travis' contract before now. They didn't, and now they are stuck between a Ram and a hard place.