The latest on Ollie Rathbone and Millers new-deal talks

Rotherham United midfielder Ollie Rathbone in Championship action at Millwall. Picture: Jim Brailsford

At the start of this season it looked like an agreement was close to being brokered with the 26-year-old who has become a key man since his move from Rochdale in 2021.

However, it could now be the New Year before any resolution is reached.

“To be honest, it's cooled off a little bit,” Rathbone said. “I’d had a positive conversation with the manager just before opening day (August 5) and I came out of the meeting thinking it was really close to being agreed.

“But it was in the midst of the transfer window and the club then said it wasn’t something they could do at the time, which was disappointing but I understood.

“The ball's in their court as to when talks start again. It's cold at the moment.”

Rotherham hold an option to extend the player's present contract by 12 months which would take them through to the end of next season.

Boss Matt Taylor is keen to wrap up deals for Rathbone and other top Millers performers well before their terms expire rather than risk them becoming free agents and departing AESSEAL New York Stadium for no fee.

“Ollie is a fantastic player and a good addition to any team,” the manager said. “He's our captain when Sean Morrison isn't selected. I still think it can get resolved, although there is nothing immediate on the horizon.

“Everyone is comfortable with it, including Ollie. Once it gets past January, you're at the 18-month mark and looking towards the 12-month mark. Then you run the risk of what's happened at the club before with players leaving for nothing.

“A lot will happen between now and the end of January. The plan is to keep securing the majority of our better performers and Ollie certainly fits that description. He won't be the only player I will be pushing the board to secure on a new deal.”

Another member of the squad Taylor would love to keep, centre-half Cameron Humphreys, this week underwent surgery on a hamstring tear and is set to be out for several months.

“We'll support him through this difficult period and then try our hardest to get him back on the pitch and back to the player we've seen for the last 12 months,” the manager said.

Taylor, who reached the milestone of a year in charge on Tuesday, takes his team to Southampton tomorrow.