Albion have confirmed new deals for FIVE emerging youngsters – but Romania midfielder Tudor Baluta is being let go.

The club have activated options to extend contracts for Alex Cochrane, who spent the season on loan with Hearts in the Scottish Premiership, as well as under-23s goalkeeper Tom McGill, midfielder Jack Spong and strikers Laurent Tolaj and Ben Wilson.

Cochrane, who can operate at left-back, wing-back or on the left of a back three, played in 40 matches for Hearts this season, including the cup final versus Rangers.

Baluta, a deep-lying midfielder who can also play at the back, has been unable to make a breakthrough in three-and-a-half years with the club.

He had an injury-affected season on loan at Dynamo Kiev.

Technical director David Weir said: “Tudor has been a great professional and a pleasure to work with during his time here, and he has worked really hard to breakthrough, but found his opportunities limited.

“We feel it is best for Tudor to seek a new challenge and we wish him well. We will assist him doing in that. I would also like to take this chance to thank him for his service to the club.”

Albion have also released under-23 players Adam Desbois, Lars Dendoncker, Ulrick Ella and Ayo Tanimowo as well as under-18s John Lucero and Jaami Qureshi.

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Acting academy manager Ian Buckman said: “It is never an easy process when it comes to decision time for our under-23 or academy players.

“For some boys you are delivering very good news, for others it is the opposite end of the spectrum, and that is where our focus as coaches is for the process.

“We would like to thanks all the players for their efforts. We will now work to support those players and help them in the next step on their footballing journey. We will do all we can to help them to find new clubs and make that transition.”