Rotherham United forward Jerry Yates has had a one-year option in his contract triggered by the club. Yates spent the 2019/20 season on loan at League Two champions Swindon Town but could now make the step up to the Championship after the Millers earned promotion from League One.
Jerry Yates Contract Option Exercised By Rotherham United
Reasoning Behind the Move
Mark Donnelly of the Sunderland Echo reports that both Sunderland and Blackpool were interested in signing 23-year-old Yates. At his age, he will want to be playing first-team football regularly and there is no guarantee that can happen at Rotherham given the big step up and the form of Freddie Ladapo and Michael Smith this season.
Therefore, the Millers could have done this only to ensure that they get a fee for Yates rather than losing him for nothing. After a terrific spell at Swindon, he clearly has value and would be a top signing for any team in League One.
It would also make sense financially as clubs will need to generate whatever money they can in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Released and Retained
Rotherham announced the move for Yates at the same time as revealing their released and retained list at the end of the curtailed 2019/20 season.
Lewis Price and Billy Jones have been offered deals for next season by the club. They are currently in the process of deciding whether to accept.
Meanwhile, both Julien Lamy and Laurence Bilboe will leave the club after they were not offered extensions to their deals.
The Millers are also losing four loanees as they return to their parent clubs. Daniel Iversen returns to Leicester City, Dan Barlaser has gone back to Newcastle United, Hakeeb Adelakun returns to Bristol City and Josh Koroma will go back to Huddersfield Town.
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