Albion boss Tony Mowbray has hinted he could release players this summer instead of committing to an extra year’s wages.

Mowbray has five players whose contracts expire in the close season, but all have an option in their contracts allowing the club to keep them for an extra year.

But the manager reckons the Baggies must strike a balance between losing players on free transfers and wasting cash on salaries.

Carl Hoefkens, Luke Daniels, Jared Hodgkiss, Pele and Shelton Martis are all out of contract, although Mowbray has confirmed he will keep defender Martis and hinted strongly that goalkeeper Daniels will stay.

Mowbray said: “Those decisions are made by the club, although I obviously have some input.

“That’s why you have to look at how you evolve the squad. Who’s going out, who’s coming in, what are the numbers you’ll be working with?

“We need the right balance, which we never quite managed this year.

“The Premier League is more difficult because you can’t use loans outside the transfer window, whereas you can in the Championship if we go down.

“So even if you don’t get it right at the end of the transfer window, you can still get the balance right if it isn’t quite there.

“That makes your job a little bit easier. All those scenarios are in a melting pot concerning what order your business gets done.

“It’s OK picking up certain players’ options thinking you’ll get a value in transfer market, but if you don’t do that you may lose a whole year’s salary.

“Those are the pros and cons of picking up options.”

Martis will be handed an extra year to build on his progress of this season, while Daniels is likely to be kept on after a good season on loan at Shrewsbury.

But Hodgkiss might find himself released as Mowbray looks to free up wages.

Hoefkens seems certain to move on this summer, but Albion face a tough decision on whether they are confident of recouping a transfer fee if they active the Belgian’s option.

Pele is in the same boat. He remains hugely popular at the club but is unlikely to be part of Mowbray’s long-term plans.