Final-day Championship debutant Shane McLoughlin has been offered a new contract by the Blues, TWTD understands, while talks are set to take place with some of the other young players whose deals are up this summer in the next week or so.
McLoughlin, 21, came on as a 76th minute sub against Middlesbrough and won the penalty from which Martyn Waghorn netted his 16th goal of the season. The former Republic of Ireland U18 international had made his first-team debut in the Carabao Cup tie at Crystal Palace in August.
Speaking at the press conference prior to the Boro game caretaker-manager Bryan Klug said: "We’re really pleased with Shane, he’s a fantastic kid. He has a great attitude, he’s obviously a bit of a late developer physically, but we’ve kept him in the system and I wouldn’t worry about putting him in the frame because he’s very competitive and he’s good footballer.”
McLoughlin spent time out on loan with Vanarama National League Bromley towards the end of the season having had a similar spell with the Ravens in the previous campaign.
He skippered Town’s U23s for much of 2017/18 playing a variety of roles with regular captain Chris Smith having been out on loan at Chelmsford.
"He has played everywhere and that’s a lovely trait to have for a young player,” added Klug, who has now returned to his regular role as the academy’s head of coaching and player development.
"You can ask him to do anything and he’ll do it to the best of his ability. His best position is undoubtedly in midfield but he’s played right-back, he’s played left-back, he’s played centre forward and that’s a great trait.”
He added: "We think he has [a future], we’ve fought to keep him in the football club, he’s had a couple of loans and I think he’s still developing.”
Keepers Michael Crowe and Nick Hayes are also among those who are out of contract this summer and we understand the Blues will begin talks with the duo within the next week or so.
Crowe, 22, recently won his first call-up to the senior Wales squad, although without making his debut, but is still to make a senior Town appearance. Hayes, 19, has played for the England U17s and featured for the Blues' U23s this season.
Striker or midfielder Monty Patterson, who is currently on loan back in his native New Zealand with the Wellington Phoenix, is also out of contract and expected to make his departure permanent.
Klug confirmed that January signing Mustapha Carayol would have to look for a new club in the summer prior to the final game after an injury-hit if often impressive spell with the Blues, while the other winter window addition Stephen Gleeson has also wasn't offered terms.
As revealed last week, David McGoldrick will be leaving at the end of his contract this summer, while Luke Hyam confirmed he has not been offered new terms.
However, there is nothing to stop the Blues' new manager from offering any of those who are currently free to go terms if he wants to once he has been appointed.
The option for an additional year on keeper Bartosz Bialkowski’s contract has been taken up but the 30-year-old is still to sign the deal he agreed in January having said negotiations are continuing.