Albion’s goalkeeper situation for the new season could become much clearer this week.

And the biggest question mark will remain over the man who was No.1 until relatively recently and who still potentially has a big future in the game.

Robert Sanchez’s Albion status was cast into doubt when he opted not to be part of the last five games of the season.

He had lost his place in the XI some time before that after having started in Roberto De Zerbi’s first 16 Premier League games as head coach.

For now, he has signed off with an excellent performance in the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United at Wembley.

His slip down the pecking order also saw him lose his spot in the Spain squad once first choice Unai Simon returned from injury.

Sanchez has been fleetingly mentioned in relation to interest from other clubs but it is understood there has been nothing as yet which would particularly appeal to him.

A new challenge may well be best for him now but would Albion be ready to sever links completely with a keeper who has talents, albeit not quite those which exactly suit De Zerbi’s masterplan?

Sanchez has been working hard at a private training camp in Portugal ahead of pre-season and will not be short of motivation for the coming weeks and months.

A loan deal in the new season should not be ruled out.

Jason Steele starts pre-season with his stock high.

De Zerbi has made it clear he wants to help the man he pitched into the first XI progress to the England squad.

That ambition was echoed in an unlikely location very recently – on a fans’ flag being flown high among the crowds at Glastonbury.

 

Bart Verbruggen is now clear to sort out his future after the Netherlands under-21s were knocked out of the Euros - and that is expected to involve a move to England.

Despite some good saves by the Anderlecht giant, the Dutch were unable to get out of a tightly-contested group.

He has said his agents would be handling his future while he was on international duty.

Obviously there will be some holiday time now but the expectation will be he completes paperwork with the Seagulls and sets off on a new venture in the Premier League for a transfer fee of about £17 million.

Many Albion fans have been sharing some impressive clips and stats to underline Verbruggen’s ability his hands.

Crucially, he is also very adept with ball at his feet.

“He is not Frenkie De Jong but he can play football, no problem,” one Dutch source told The Argus.

Carl Rushworth remained in Georgia as England got out of their group. The Albion prospect has been understudying the excellent James Trafford as England powered their way to three wins in their group and was on the bench again against Portugal in the quarter-finals.

After loans at Walsall and Lincoln, the obvious move for Rushworth is now something similar in the Championship.

One imagines there would be clubs keen to take advantage of that.

Kjell Scherpen, back-up to Verbruggen on the international stage, is likely to again go on loan, probably in mainland Europe.

With James Beadle already on loan at Oxford, that would leave a senior goalkeeping triumvirate of Steele, Verbruggen and Tom McGill for the new campaign.

Fynn Talley and Toby Bull, who have travelled with the senior squad on occasion in the past, were among several young players who to be released at the end of the season.