ALBION boss Chris Hughton has not given up hope of hanging on to his central kingpins.

Dale Stephens and Beram Kayal are out of contract at the end of the season, putting the Seagulls at risk of losing them next summer or possibly sooner in January if new deals cannot be agreed.

Stephens left the door ajar after helping Albion topple leaders Huddersfield on Tuesday.

The midfielder, who asked for a transfer on the last day of the window as Albion rejected a sixth bid from Burnley, told The Argus a new deal is “still open for discussion”.

Hughton said: “I very much hope so. It was a difficult time for him and I totally understand it. He has been very honest and transparent right the way through it.

“He’s a very good player. It’s good to have him back and, of course, he’s one we’d like to keep here for a good period of time but that’s down to conversations between him, those that look after him and the club.

“We absolutely hope something can be done. Probably the most important thing at the moment is getting him back into the team, playing well and seeing if he can influence the team.”

Kayal is in the same situation as Stephens, so Albion are in jeopardy of starting next season without both of them.

Hughton said: “We don’t want to be but contracts always work both ways. It’s the club’s prerogative when a player is under contract to want to keep that player and it’s the player’s prerogative if he doesn’t want to sign (again).

“We sincerely hope not. We desperately want to keep our good players here and we are hopeful that both Beram and Dale will sign but ultimately it will be down to them.”

Stephens and Kayal, who started together against Huddersfield for the first time since May, are set to be partners again at Burton tomorrow as Albion tried to end a run of five games at Championship level without an away win.