D-day nears for Rotherham United contract decisions

Defenders Lee Peltier, Sean Morrison and Tyler Blackett are among the group offered fresh terms alongside some names who were on loan at AESSEAL New York Stadium.

But with a week to go before the squad report back to begin their build-up to the new season, manager Matt Taylor would like some individuals to make their intentions clear.

“We have some good, contracted players from last season, some players who contributed an awful lot. There are offers out there for players who were with us and their contracts had run out or were with us on loan, so we are working through it.

“Regarding the current players offered contracts, we want (answers) in closer to pre-season. We are back on June 26 so their time frame will be slightly shorter because we know how important a long pre-season is for the majority of our group.

“We felt with the injuries we had last season, that was something that hampered us, so I expect for the ones we have offered contracts to who have been with us previously their time frame to be slightly different to those in the outside market, so to speak.”

Taylor needs a squad fit and able to handle what, on paper, looks an even harder Championship next season.

Keen as he is to start bringing new faces in, he and other managers are limited by a traditionally sluggish transfer market at this time of year.

“It's a slow window for the majority,” he said. “A lot of players are waiting and I think it's fair to say a lot of players are coming off the back of good contracts elsewhere which means they're not in a rush to get signed up in May or June.

“Once it gets into July I think we will have a better idea where we are in terms of offers and the current market.”

Millers goalkeeper Vicktor Johansson, meanwhile, was an unused sub as Sweden beat New Zealand 4-1 in a friendly on Friday. He will again be in the frame for a Euro 2024 qualifier in Austria tomorrow.

The fixtures for the 2023/24 season are released at 9am on Thursday.