Credit: Imago

Declan Carr

Sat 2 May 2026 10:30, UK

James Morrison has opened up about West Bromwich Albion‘s out-of-contract players.

The Baggies have the likes of Daryl Dike, Josh Maja, Jed Wallace, Max O’Leary and Karlan Grant set to leave in the summer.

There is still time to sort out renewals with those players, but Morrison’s latest admission does not bode well.

Speaking ahead of the clash with Sheffield Wednesday, the newly appointed permanent Albion boss said: “Yes, there’s a couple that I have spoken to.

“But again that will be a process that we work together with and we see where we get to on that.

“I will give my opinion and then it will be the process.”

West Brom need to get it sorted soon.

What does Morrison’s admission mean for West Brom contracts?

Morrison’s admission suggests that no progress has been made on West Brom’s expiring contracts, which is grim reading for the out-of-contract stars.

That is a worrying sign for the players involved as they may have to find new clubs in the summer, if they are not handed a fresh opportunity at The Hawthorns.

Perhaps, the manager does not want to reveal his cards, but it will leave the quintet fearing for their Baggies future.

Who deserves a new deal?

O’Leary must be handed a new contract, as he has proven to be the man to stop the goalkeeping concerns in the Black Country.

The former Bristol City man has not conceded a single goal in his last 450 minutes of Championship action.

Dike has experienced a late-season resurgence, with two goals in his last three matches, but whether that is enough to earn a new deal remains to be seen.

Maja was Albion’s top scorer in the second tier last season with 12 goals, but he has notched just four league strikes this campaign, leaving his future in doubt.

Grant has underperformed this season, with just three goals, and injuries have also kept him out for an extended period, so his renewal status is also questionable.

Finally, Wallace has three goals and two assists, but that is not enough, and he may well end up moving on in the near future, even though he is the club captain at the moment.

O’Leary is probably the only one who is guaranteed to be in B71 next season, with the rest all leaving huge question marks given their form.

Morrison could opt for a total reset, but it would be a risk, with the experience that they would be losing.