West Brom set to make contracts decision as Carlos Corberan insists on average age point

West Bromwich Albion's senior thinktank faces a crucial few days of decision making as they prepare their retain and release list following the conclusion of their season. Albion have as many as 21 players out of contract across their senior and Premier League 2 squads, while loanees Pipa and Mikey Johnston will return to their parent clubs. Andi Weimann is now a free agent having been already released by parent club Bristol City.

Up until Friday night, Albion's league status was uncertain, but having been beaten 3-1 by Southampton across the two legs of their play-off semi-final, a valiant effort across the course of the Championship season has proven to be in vain for Carlos Corberan and his players and they'll spend a fourth consecutive season in the second tier of English football.

For Albion, there'll be an opportunity to freshen up their ranks and, perhaps crucially, lower the average age of their squad; six of the players whose deals are due to expire are aged 30 or over. While that squad statistic may play on the mind of some, who'd like to see their group to possess a more youthful look it's not necessarily the case with Corberan, who has always maintained that the ability and professionalism of the players are more important than age.

He recently used the example of Real Madrid's prevailing over Manchester City in the Champions League quarter final, a two-legged tie which the side from the Spanish capital won on penalties at the Etihad Stadium and with the veteran pair of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric depended on to bring experience and quality in their midfield roles.

"I am someone who is not very focused on the age of players, I am more focused on the skills and quality of players. I think players with quality can face different situations," Corberan reasoned. "It's true that if you have lived something previously it can help you to know (about it) from previous experience, but it doesn't guarantee anything either. When Real Madrid beat Manchester City, Modric and Kroos were playing, experienced players, this experience is an advantage, but then you see the keeper, probably Madrid's best player, and the first time he was playing these type of games.

"You can think the experience can help, but it was probably the first round of penalties [Real goalkeeper Andriy] Lunin was playing in, in a massive tournament and he was excellent. What does it mean? That nobody knows! You can understand both things."

As well as long-serving pair Kyle Bartley and Matt Phillips and fan favourites Alex Mowatt and Cedric Kipre out of contract, Albion must also make calls on the likes of Adam Reach, Yann M'Vila, Nathaniel Chalobah and Erik Pieters in the coming days.