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West Brom set to give youngsters new contracts

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West Brom are due to tie down academy starlets Jonathan Leko and Sam Field with their first professional contracts next week.

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Leko, who impressed on the wing at the end of the season, will sign a new improved deal that prevents him from being poached.

Fellow academy starlet Sam Field, who made his debut on the final day against Liverpool, is also expected to pen a new deal when the academy returns.

Big clubs have been circling around the England youth internationals, with Chelsea and Manchester City reportedly interested in Leko.

But the Baggies have made sure their futures remain in the Black Country ahead of pre-season which begins a week on Monday (July 4).

Field, 18, is a lifelong Albion fan who has been at the club since he was eight and Leko, 17, has been a Baggie since the club picked him up aged 11 from local junior team CS Colts.

Tyler Roberts, 17, who also made his league debut against Liverpool, signed his first professional contract in January.

Albion had the oldest squad in the Premier League last season and the hierarchy are desperate to inject some youth into the side.

"We want this year to bring some younger players into the group," confirmed technical director Nick Hammond. "I've got no problem having an older starting 11. At the same time you have to look at the future.

"So those type of younger players that can come, contribute and grow with the club, we're looking for those types of signings.

"I've had conversations with Tony [Pulis] around that and he's very positive and upbeat on that.

"But we've got our own academy players as well.

"I'm not one for buying a 17-year-old from a top Premier League club if we've got our own one.

"I would always say give your own one a chance in the first instance."

The Baggies have been stung in the past by teams poaching their best academy players.

Liverpool took 14-year-old Jerome Sinclair in 2011 and Birmingham-born Yan Dhanda in 2013.

When Chelsea pinched 16-year-old Isaiah Brown three years ago, chairman Jeremy Peace considered scrapping the club's academy system.

Albion only received £209,000 in compensation under Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) rules while the academy was costing £2.5m in overheads.

Leko has been tipped to challenge for a first team place out wide next season after Stephane Sessegnon was let go.

Out-of-favour winger Callum McManaman could also leave the club this summer and the 25-year-old has once again been linked with a move to Derby County.

McManaman endured a frustrating season at The Hawthorns that included a spell in the under-21s and an ankle ligament injury that required surgery.

Bought from Wigan Athletic for £4.75m in January 2015, Pulis accused him of diving against Southampton last September and the fiery Merseyside man didn't start a Premier League match after that incident.

Derby were linked with the winger in January when the Baggies wanted £7m for him, but now the club just want to make their money back.

Although new Rams boss Nigel Pearson is waiting to have a proper look at his squad in pre-season before making any decisions, McManaman is believed to be on a holding list of targets at Pride Park.