View: 10 West Brom players out of contract this summer and whether to keep or release
West Brom have seen their promotion push grind to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic and a lot of doubt surrounds players who are out of contract in the summer.
Usually, players’ contracts expire on June 30 but if the season is reconvened and goes past that date, there could be measures in place for them to stay put at their current club until the season is finished.
As it stands, West Brom have 10 players whose contracts will expire at the end of June and here, West Brom News has said whether the club should try to keep or release them:
Jonathan Bond – Keep
Since joining the Baggies on a free transfer in 2018, Bond has made just seven appearances and all of them have come in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. He’s kept four clean sheets in the process and isn’t the worst back-up goalkeeper for Sam Johnstone so it might be a good idea to keep hold of Bond rather than wasting time trying to find a new second-choice ‘keeper in the summer.
Chris Brunt – Release
Brunt is a West Brom legend but sadly, it is time for him to leave The Hawthorns after 13 years of service to the club. Brunt came close to leaving Albion in January and it wouldn’t be fair to keep him on another season when he’s barely playing now. It will be a sad day when Brunty and his wand of a left foot leaves the club but unfortunately, that day is likely to come on June 30.
Ali Al-Habsi – Release
Albion signed 38-year-old Al-Habsi in August as a third-choice goalkeeper and, as expected, the Omani shot-stopper has not made a single appearance. If Johnstone or Bond got injured or suspended then we might have seen more of the former Wigan and Bolton man, but that hasn’t happened. Al-Habsi’s probably not worth keeping on.
Kyle Edwards – Keep
According to the Birmingham Mail, West Brom have the option to extend Edwards’ contract by a further year. We have seen enough from the young attacker this season to suggest he’s worth sticking with for at least another season.
Jack Fitzwater – Keep
Fitwater is 22-years-old and only played once in the West Brom first-team but he is still someone who is worth keeping on for an extra year as either a back-up option or to loan him out and hope he can continue his development.
Nathan Ferguson – Release
Before a recent report by the Express & Star came out, we would have said that West Brom should try to get Ferguson tied down to a new contract. He’s one of the best young players at The Hawthorns and understandably attracted Premier League interest in January when Crystal Palace came calling. Albion and Palace reportedly agreed an £11million deal for Ferguson before a medical stopped the move going through. The Express & Star now reports that West Brom could receive close to that figure in compensation if Palace sign Ferguson at the end of his contract this summer, which is why we say the defender should be released.
Kane Wilson – Keep
Wilson only turned 20-years-old last month and has had some impressive loan spells away from The Hawthorns at Exeter and Walsall. This season he has been on loan at Tranmere and had a couple of injury problems that have meant he’s played just 13 times in League One. However the young right-back has still shown promise and is worth keeping for another couple of seasons to see if he can break into the senior squad.
Gareth Barry – Release
West Brom have a Premier League record-holder in their squad in Barry but at the age of 39, it is time for the club to say it’s goodbyes to the experienced midfielder. Barry’s display against Newcastle United in the FA Cup proved that he’s no longer a viable option for the Baggies and letting him go is a bit of a no-brainer due to his lack of game-time.
Alex Palmer – Keep
West Brom could be looking at having a whole new goalkeeping department if they decide to release Bond, Al-Habsi and Palmer. We’ve said that Bond should be kept and Al-Habsi should be released, which means a third-choice goalkeeper could be needed. And that is why we say Palmer should be kept on by the Baggies. The 23-year-old has done well on loan at League Two high-flyers Plymouth this season, keeping 13 clean sheets in 36 league appearances. He’s got a decent amount of experience for his age and should be kept as third-choice goalkeeper for next season.
Lee Peltier – Release
West Brom signed Peltier, 33, in January and he hasn’t made a single appearance in Slaven Bilic’s matchday squads for the Championship since. The right-back will turn 34 in December and isn’t going to be worth keeping on.
In other West Brom news, West Brom Super Fans are raving about this update on Ferguson’s future.