The new year is now in full swing and with eyes firmly fixated on who will come through the door at Ewood Park, Tony Mowbray must also decipher who will stay with contracts nearing their final six months.
Blackburn Rovers have eight players who are out of contract this summer, and there maybe temptation for the club to cash in on one or two at the latter end of the transfer window as they look to negotiate their limited finances within the restrictions of Financial Fair Play.
Here are the players who will be looking for a new club if their contracts are not extended by June.
Stewart Downing
You don't tend to find many 35-year-old professional footballers providing such a positive influence on the pitch as Downing has so far this season.
Since joining the club last summer, Downing's versatility and experience have proven to be an integral component in Mowbray's side, playing across a variety of positions which include left-back, left midfield and operating at the heart of the midfield - all of which he has excelled in.
There are question marks over his future fitness (he doesn't seem to be suffering at the moment) and he's not the same spring chicken that he was a couple of years ago, but what doesn't seem to be faltering anytime soon is that diamond left peg of his.
His delivery from set-pieces is a vital asset and even if his performances do soon to deteriorate, Downing's presence within the squad can only be beneficial as he nears the end of his playing career.
Likeliest outcome: STAYS
Elliott Bennett
The Club captain has been a reliable servant in his four years with the club, and similarly to Downing, his versatility has enabled him to be come a dependable member of the squad.
Bennett's imposing persona in the dressing room has made him a key figure in the team, whilst reiterating Mowbray's decision to make him captain.
He's been a regular starter and even when he endured a spell on the bench in December, the 31-year-old is very much on the favoured side of his manager.
I think a few would be surprised to see him leave.
Likeliest outcome: STAYS
Amari'i Bell
A relatively unknown quantity when he arrived in 2018 from Fleetwood Town, Bell has established himself as a key member of the Rovers first-team and has attracted plenty of interest from other clubs.
A common trend within Mowbray's squad, Bell's versatility has made him a useful tool when Rovers have had to overcome injury problems and the full-back was a prominent feature during last season's campaign.
It's been more of the same this season, with his attacking threat creating a substantial threat from Rovers' left, even if there are question marks on his defending.
Unless there was a strong desire for Bell to leave, the club would not be willing to let a valuable asset escape them for free.
Likeliest outcome: STAYS
Danny Graham
On current analysis, it would be hard to argue against the fact that Danny Graham is still the most clinical striker in the squad.
But whilst Graham has been an excellent servant to the club, his influence in the team has waned and unlike Downing, age looks to be catching up with the striker.
Of course, it's all dependable on what sort of player Rovers will see when Graham returns from injury.
Yet with the 34-year-old aiming to receive a two-year extension at the club whilst Rovers only seem keen on offering him one, it would probably be an unsurprising decision if both parties were to part ways and Rovers sought a more youthful option (fingers crossed Sam Gallagher starts firing.)
Likeliest outcome: LEAVES
Richard Smallwood
No appearances in the league thus far for Smallwood, and I don't think we can expect to see the midfielder bursting onto the scene in the near future (unless the injury crisis deepens.)
Let's not forget the integral part he played in helping Rovers achieve promotion back to the Championship, and although there were glimpses that Smallwood could perhaps impose himself on the second tier of football, he' not the sort of player that Mowbray will depend upon if the club are to make any further progression.
Likeliest outcome: LEAVES
Jayson Leutwiler
On the basis of his Birmingham cameo it seems unlikely that Leutwiler has forced his way into Mowbray's consideration after playing second fiddle to Christian Walton so far this season.
The end to last season had been promising for the Canadian after featuring in the concluding four games of the campaign, which ultimately seen his contract extended after it had been due to expire last summer.
Although Leutwiler is a dependable back-up, the goalkeeper has often expressed his desire to be playing regular football and with Alex Fisher making his progression through the ranks, Rovers will probably look at alternative options in the summer.
Likeliest outcome: LEAVES
Dominic Samuel
Samuel's career at Ewood Park has been one of torrid bad luck.
After that promising start - where he scored four goals in his first six outings after his move from Reading - Samuel has been unable to muscle his way into the first-team squad ever since he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in August 2018.
His development has stifled significantly and despite making some in-roads with his goal scoring habits for Billy Barr's U23's, Samuel has struggled to make any impact on the first-team stage.
A move away will be the best option to revitalise his career.
Likeliest outcome: LEAVES
Sam Hart
Similarly to Samuel, Hart's time with Rovers has transpired into one of stagnation.
There was an element of expectation and 'one for the future' when Hart first signed from Liverpool in 2017 for an undisclosed fee.
Loan moves to Rochdale and Southend United were successful but Hart's second-half of 2019 has also been plagued with injuries, and has therefore had to earn minutes for the development squad.
There's definitely potential in the player, but whether that is realised at Rovers is a different matter.
Likeliest outcome: LEAVES
