Blackburn Rovers reaction given to Sondre Tronstad situation - "It wouldn’t surprise me" if we saw Rudy Gestede action | OneFootball

FLW's Blackburn fan pundit has given his verdict on Sondre Tronstad's likely departure next summer

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Blackburn Rovers’ head of football operations Rudy Gestede has claimed that Sondre Tronstad is expected to depart the club as a free agent in the summer.

It has been reported by the Lancashire Telegraph that the Norwegian has no intention of signing a new deal to remain at Ewood Park.

The 30-year-old is in the third year of his current contract, and he has been a key player for the side since arriving from Vitesse Arnhem in the 2023 summer transfer window.

However, Gestede has revealed that the player’s wish is to go back to Scandinavia for personal reasons, meaning this will be his final season with the Lancashire outfit.

Tronstad played a total of 36 and 38 times in the previous two seasons for the Championship side, helping the team earn 19th and seventh place finishes in the table, and has remained a key part of the side under Valerien Ismael.

Sondre Tronstad update is a blow for Blackburn Rovers

When asked about Tronstad’s expected departure, FLW’s Blackburn fan pundit Simon Middlehurst claimed that it would be a real blow to the team given his importance.

However, he understands the desire to move for personal reasons, even it it will hurt to see someone with his leadership quality depart.

“It’s no real secret that he’s said for family reasons he’s looking to move back to Scandinavia,” Middlehurst told Football League World.

“Before he joined us, he was playing in the Netherlands for a bit, so it’s understandable that he’s wanting to move back home.

“I don’t think his family is set up in England as well as he’d hoped.

“It would be a big blow, he’s been a big part of Rovers these last couple of years, he’s become a bit of a fan favourite.

“Obviously, again, a bit of a leader, a bit of experience that we’d be losing.”

Middlehurst believes that a January sale could even be on the cards given how he sees how Gestede operates: “It wouldn’t surprise me, the way that Blackburn management are operating now, how Rudy Gestede is doing things, that they would try and sell him.

“That will all depend on if a Scandinavian team would come in for him.

“A lot of them might wait until the end of the season and get him for a free, so see how it goes but it would be a big blow to lose him.

“He’s a big part of Rovers, he’s a fan favourite and everyone loves him.”

Tronstad has featured in all five of Blackburn’s opening league fixtures so far this season, with the team sitting 16th in the table.

Ismael’s team won 1-0 against Watford last weekend, leaving them with six points from a possible 15.

Next up for Rovers is a home clash against Ipswich Town on 20 September.

Not much Blackburn can do with Sondre Tronstad situation

Tronstad’s position on a new contract is quite clear at this stage, which is probably to the benefit of Blackburn.

The club won’t be dragging this on until the summer without a resolution, so can at least plan for his departure now.

A sale in January could also help raise funds, but it’s unlikely a good enough offer will come to offset the damage losing him could have on the team.

It’s perfectly reasonable for the player to want to move on after three years, but it will be disappointing for supporters to see him go.