West Brom have reignited their interest in Huddersfield’s Karlan Grant, having first turned their attention to the striker in January.
The Terriers striker has been in brilliant form for the struggling Championship side this term with 16 goals in 34 league games, which has also sparked interest from Aston Villa.
A desire to play in the Premier League may enhance the two suitors’ chances of signing Grant, and the Baggies could take the place of their rivals in the top flight.
Huddersfield will likely be determined to keep ahold of the forward though considering how important he has been this season, and with more than two years remaining on his contract the Yorkshire outfit isn’t in a position where they need to sell.
Should Slaven Bilic show his determination to bring him to the Hawthorns however a deal might be possible, and considering West Brom’s three strikers have only 21 league goals between them it is certainly possible that West Brom will do their best to complete the signing.
Whether he would be a good acquisition is a different matter, however, and our team of Football FanCast writers have shared their views on that exact question.
Matt Dawson
“Karlan Grant could be Dwight Gayle 2.0 at West Brom. However, that isn’t necessarily in a good way. If the Baggies stay in the Championship then he’s a player who could quite easily fire them to promotion – just as Gayle nearly did by scoring 24 in their run to the playoffs last season. Grant has 16 league goals this term which eclipses every single player at Albion. Just imagine where they’d be this season with a forward of that calibre.
“At the moment, Albion sit in second place and are well in the hunt to get promoted. However, if they do go up, Grant could quite easily flop in a way Gayle has at a higher level. Some strikers either have it or they don’t and a plethora have succeeded in the second tier before looking underwhelming in the top-flight. Take former Championship top-scorer Matej Vydra for example who has scored just four goals in his Burnley career.
“Gayle, meanwhile, has only 21 strikes to his name in 111 Premier League outings. Grant did rack up four in nine starts last term but we’ve seen little besides that to suggest he’d be a successful signing. In short, he’d be a top drawer addition in the league they’re currently in, but would be a big gamble if they get promoted.”
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Danny Lewis
“Regardless of what league the Baggies are in next season, signing Grant would represent brilliant business for them. He didn’t have much time in the Premier League last season, after joining Huddersfield in January, but the striker did show glimpses of the impact he can make in the Premier League.
“This was most obvious to see against West Ham United, when he got a brace despite the team coming out of the game on the end of a 4-3 loss. As well as that, the creativity that West Brom possess from Kamil Grosicki and Matt Phillips will surely help him to thrive at the Hawthorns.”
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Viji Jeevathalayan
“Bilic would be naive in making a move for Huddersfield’s Karlan Grant. Whilst the Baggies haven’t done it just yet, promotion to the Championship does seem to be on the cards whenever the season resumes. With that being said, West Brom really need to be thinking about players who can hack it at the very highest level, and Grant has yet to show that in his career.
“In the 13 games that he played in the Premier League, he managed just four goals – hardly the worst record in the world, but not the kind of numbers you need to ensure top-flight safety. Premier League football should mean Bilic can attract better quality players, and there are surely better options on the market than Grant. West Brom should keep the money and spend it elsewhere.”
Kealan Hughes
“Going after Grant is a positive move for West Brom to make considering his recent form and potential ability, but given the lack of reliability in the forward department it would be sensible if the Baggies targeted other options also.
“Grant has scored goals wherever he has been and adapted to life at Huddersfield brilliantly, even though the side has struggled in the little more than 12 months he has spent in Yorkshire, having experienced relegation from the Premier League.
“Added to that, he adds pace and a creative spark too, averaging 1.3 key passes per game, and that is something West Brom lack in Kenneth Zohore and Charlie Austin.”
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