Exclusive: Kevin Phillips delivers verdict on West Brom link to striker with PL experience
We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…
Kevin Phillips believes that Huddersfield striker Karlan Grant could be a good signing for West Brom if they strike a deal for him this summer.
TeamTalk reported in July that the Baggies are winning the race to sign the 22-year-old forward while The Athletic journalist Steve Madeley has more recently said that he’d “be surprised if they don’t at least consider him”.
Grant scored 19 goals in 43 Championship appearances for Huddersfield last season as they just about avoided relegation to League One.
After signing from Charlton in January 2019, the striker showed that he can also find the back of the net in the Premier League by scoring four times in 13 appearances as the Terriers were relegated.
Phillips believes that bit of Premier League experience could come in handy for Grant and for West Brom if they sign the Huddersfield forward this summer.
“I’ve said all along that the striker area is the area where Slaven Bilic will be putting all his eggs in the basket,” Phillips told West Brom News.
“Grant has struggled at times at Huddersfield but he does have that bit of Premier League experience. It’s important to bring in someone who has that experience and has scored some goals in the Premier League.
“Towards the end of last season he started producing the goods and I watched him in a couple of live games – he’s got good movement.
“The big thing for me with West Brom is: can they create enough chances for the striker to score goals?
“Whichever striker comes in, if the team isn’t creating opportunities, can you create them yourself?
“It’s a big ask but if you can get Grant at the right money, then he wouldn’t be a bad signing. But I’m sure there are other players on Slaven’s list as well.”
Grant played as a left-winger as much as he played as a centre-forward for Huddersfield last season and still managed to finish fourth in the race for the Championship’s golden boot – an impressive feat for someone playing for a team that finished 18th.
He hit the back of the net against West Brom, Fulham, Brentford, Swansea and Nottingham Forest last term, which shows that he can get on the scoresheet in games he’s not expected to.
As Phillips says, if the deal is right then Grant could be a fine addition.
But there are more than likely going to be better options out there for Slaven Bilic at the moment.
In other West Brom news, the club has confirmed a pre-season friendly will take place next week.
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