Carlos Corberan makes honest admission on out-of-contract West Brom players
Carlos Corberan admits it could be a positive that so many West Brom players are soon to be out of contract as it keeps them on their toes.
As many as 22 Albion players, including academy prospects, are due to become free agents at the end of the campaign [Birmingham Live].
Due to the boardroom uncertainty, it may well be that West Brom leave it until the last minute to renegotiate terms with some key personnel – if at all.
While Corberan accepts it is not an ideal situation, the Spaniard has attempted to put a positive spin on it.
Asked if it is in the best interests of those facing uncertain futures to continue performing, Corberan is quoted by Birmingham Live [25 November] as saying: “Yes – 100 per cent.
“Sometimes when you are in the last year you know everything you are going to achieve in the future in this club or out the club depends on how you compete in the year, so this is positive too.
“It’s the love for your job, your club, your team-mates, that needs to move you more than the years on the contract you have left.”
Corberan added: “What happens in the next year is something in the passing of time the club will look at and analyse – because there are things that will impact these decisions, but it is part of the future.
“In the present now we evaluate every player we have, how they link with the club and squad, and for me the level is excellent.”
Lengthy list
Among those in the final six months of their contracts at The Hawthorns are Alex Mowatt, Cedric Kipre, Matt Phillips, Kyle Bartley, Erik Pieters, Nathaniel Chalobah, Tom Fellows and Reyes Cleary.
That is some serious talent that West Brom risk waving goodbye to for nothing, which really would be a disaster for the club.
In an ideal world, each of those would be tied up beyond the end of this season, but the club is not in a position to discuss fresh terms until a takeover is completed – if it ever is.
That is why it is so important a buy-out is completed as soon as possible. While strengthening the squad in January would be nice, the immediate priority is simply keeping hold of key players and getting others to pen fresh terms.
Privately, Corberan is no doubt worried about the situation, but the Spaniard has put a brave face on and he does make a good point.
Let’s just hope that lengthy list of out-of-contract players becomes a little shorter as we edge towards the summer.
In other West Brom news, David Prutton has predicted the result of Saturday’s (25 November) showdown against Ipswich Town.