This summer will inevitably be a busy one for Blackburn Rovers.

Having confirmed the release of a number of first-team players in their retained list on Friday, and with several more having seen their loans with the club expire, there are a number of players the Ewood Park club will need to replace in the summer transfer window.

However, even with those departures, Blackburn still have a number of high quality players on their books, some of which may themselves be the subject of a considerable amount of interest once the transfer market has reopened.

That of course means that there will be plenty to keep an eye on at Ewood Park over the next few months, in terms of both incomings and outgoings.

So with that in mind, we've taken a look at the ten members of Blackburn's current squad who we believe are the most valuable at this moment in time.

We start this list with a player who found his opportunities frustratingly restricted by injuries this season, in the form of Scott Wharton.

After several seasons out on loan, the centre back was handed the chance in Blackburn's first-team for the 2020/21 campaign, and had produced some impressive, encouraging performances once he got a run in the starting lineup, before a serious Achilles injury in December ended his campaign.

Never the less, at just 23-years-old, Wharton is a player who could help fill that central defensive role for Rovers for many years to come, so they will surely want to secure a new contract for the defender, whose current deal is set to expire at the end of next season.

Another centre back who is worth a considerable amount to Rovers at this moment in time, is Darragh Lenihan.

Following the departure of Corry Evans this summer, Lenihan has now made more appearances for the club than any other Blackburn player, while he has regularly worn the captain's armband across the course of the past year or so.

That leadership and experience is something Rovers should be looking to keep at Ewood Park, with the Irishman another out of contract in the summer of 2022, given there a number of young centre backs coming through at the club who could benefit from having Lenihan helping them adapt to senior football.

It has taken quite some time for Blackburn to get some return on the significant investment they made on Ben Brereton, but there were signs this season they are starting to get that.

Seven goals and four assists in the league was comfortably Brereton's best return in a season since his arrival at Ewood Park, and it could have been even better had he not had his momentum halted by a mid-season injury against Millwall that he took some to get back to his best after.

Having seemingly got back to that point by the end of the campaign, Brereton will be looking to build on that in 2021/22, and it could be crucial for Rovers that he does continue to boost his return in front of goal, amid the uncertainty around Adam Armstrong's future at the club.

Like Wharton, Joe Rankin-Costello is another who saw his 2020/21 season hampered by injuries at the worst possible moment.

A stop-start campaign meant through injury meant that Rankin-Costello never really managed to hit top form over a long period of games, although when he was out on the pitch, the talent he possesses was clear for all to see.

Indeed, the 21-years-old's versatility is something that will only add to his importance for Blackburn if he can put those fitness issues behind him, and a new long-term deal for Rankin-Costello will be something of a priority for Rovers, who have just had to trigger a 12-month extension in his current deal to keep him at Ewood for 2021/22.

Had it not been for the two ACL injuries he has suffered in the last two seasons, you can be confident that Bradley Dack would be even higher up his list.

The attacker had been key in helping the club re-establish themselves in the Championship prior to the first of those setbacks, while the contribution he made in the few months between his return and that second injury showed he can still be a key figure for the club.

Indeed, the new contract that Rovers secured for Dack back in December was seen as something of a coup for the club, and the lift his return to action could give the club midway through next season, with regards to both his ability, and the boost in morale it ought to provide, means he remains a crucial player for Blackburn going into 2021/22.

One player who has become something of a enigma for Blackburn throughout his time at Ewood Park, is Joe Rothwell.

The midfielder has been frustratingly inconsistent at times, but when he is on his game, he is almost unplayable at Championship level, so it is no surprise Rovers have taken up a 12-month extension in his contract to keep him at Ewood Park for next season.

Indeed, Mowbray has already tipped Rothwell to play a key role for the club next season, meaning it is no surprise that the club are seemingly keen to secure new long-term deal for the midfielder, to ensure they benefit from his talents for years to come.

Another player who finds himself in a similar situation to Rothwell with regards to his contract, is Ryan Nyambe.

A graduate of Blackburn's academy, Nyambe has improved massively throughout his time in the senior Rovers setup, to the point where he is now one of reliable features in the club's squad, and a rather popular one among the fanbase as well.

With that in mind, the Namibian international is another Rovers will want to secure a long-term contract for after triggering a 12-month extension in his deal, and doing so would undoubtedly be a big boost for those of a Blackburn persuasion, given the importance he holds within the club's playing squad.

With both senior goalkeepers having left the club at the end of last season, Blackburn badly need a new number one, and they filled that role brilliantly with Thomas Kaminski.

Arriving from Belgian side Gent, Kaminski enjoyed an outstanding debut season at Ewood Park, with some spectacular saves and clear passion for Rovers making him a firm fans favourites, and seeing him claim the club's player of the year award.

That form also saw him earn a place in the Belgium squad one several occasions, and having only signed a two-year deal with the club, a longer-term contract for the 28-year-old is something the club must surely look into sooner rather than later.

Another academy graduate who claims a place on this list, the rise of Lewis Travis at Blackburn Rovers has been a rather rapid one.

Having only really broken into the side midway through the 2018/19 campaign, Travis has quickly become a key figure in the centre of park for Rovers, with his tenacity and commitment to the cause badly missed during his lengthy injury lay-off in the season just gone.

However, with two years remaining on his contract, and the option to extend that by a further 12 months, Travis is one key player Rovers are in a strong position to command a decent fee for this summer, which, combined with that influence on the side, earns him second place on this list for us.

In all honesty, there was never going to be anyone other than Adam Armstrong who could top this list for Blackburn Rovers.

It has been yet another outstanding campaign for the striker, who has broken all sorts of clubs record to finish the season with a remarkable return of 29 goals in all competitions - without which Rovers could have been in significant trouble this season - not surprisingly attracting plenty of interest from the Premier League in the process.

However, it seems Armstrong will not be going cheap this summer - even he is now entering the final year of his contract at Ewood Park - with it being suggested that top-flight clubs will have to pay a fee of around £25million to secure the services of the man known affectionately at Rovers as The Angel of the North.