Football League World
·17 February 2024
Football League World
·17 February 2024
This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Karlan Grant has struggled to impress since joining Cardiff City on loan in the summer, signing from West Bromwich Albion after he fell out of favour under manager Carlos Corberan atThe Hawthorns.
The forward has previously enjoyed regular football with the Baggies, netting 24 times in 101 matches for the club. His best season came in 2022 when he scored 18 goals following his big-money move from Huddersfield.
However, Grant lost his place in the first team at West Brom and a loan move away to Cardiff offer him the chance of regular game time.
His poor performances so far will do nothing to impress the Baggies manager and the future may be uncertain for the former Huddersfield forward.
FLW's West Brom pundit Matt Smith has given his verdict on Grant's future at the club, revealing that he would like to sell the forward if the right transfer offer comes in for him. He notes that Grant does not offer much on the pitch and that he would trust the manager's decision to let the player go in the future.
He said: "Albion probably should sell Karlan Grant after his loan spell with Cardiff. I'm not a fan at all and haven't been for a number of years.
"I think his body language and natural instincts on the pitch are not what you want in a player. He's not a striker, you've got to look at playing him in some way because yes, he can hit a ball and he can finish, but I don't think he offers too much.
"Depending on what we can garner from the sale, then we should probably sell him.
"I'm not sure the manager fancies him either, and if he's not good enough for the manager, then he's not good enough for me. I'm not a fan, so I wouldn't have any problems with him leaving the club."
While Grant's performances so far this season will have convinced the Baggies boss he is no longer needed, Cardiff are unlikely to be the side chasing his signature in the summer.
In 28 matches for the Bluebirds this season, he has scored just four times and assisted twice. While Cardiff have not been impressive going forward this season and a lack of a quality striker has deeply hindered their attack, that does not excuse his lack of contribution going forward.
Due to signing a six-year deal with the Baggies after a reported £15 million transfer from Huddersfield, Grant still has two years left on his deal. Cardiff are unlikely to part with the sort of money West Brom would demand for the player, especially given his poor performances so far this season.
With the club's recent financial issues, as well as the ongoing lawsuit regarding the death of Emiliano Sala, the Bluebirds are unlikely to spend big in the summer. More loans and free transfers are expected, and you would not rule out another loan spell at the Cardiff City Stadium for Grant.
However, if Corberan is desperate to shift him from the squad on a permanent deal, it is unlikely Cardiff will be the side he joins.