Karlan Grant exit to Cardiff City has ‘come back to bite’ West Brom after Josh Maja injury blow – Carlton Palmer
West Brom allowing Karlan Grant to leave has “come back to bite them” after Josh Maja joined Daryl Dike out injured, according to Carlton Palmer.
The BBC pundit told Football League World (21 September) that with Brandon Thomas-Asante the only fit forward left for the Baggies currently it has called into question Grant’s loan exit to Cardiff City in the summer, although he admitted “hindsight’s a wonderful thing”.
The club confirmed this week (19 September) that Maja, 24, will be out for up to eight weeks with torn ankle ligaments, while Dike, 23, remains out long term after rupturing his achilles last season.
Palmer said: “The injuries to Dike and Maja have left Brandon Thomas-Asante as the only fit centre-forward at the club. The decision to let Karlan Grant go has come back to bite them a little bit.
“I did think at the time with Grant’s versatility, as he can play across the forward line, he gave you a lot of useful options. But, hindsight’s a wonderful thing.”
Debatable
West Brom are indeed now thin up front thanks to the blow of Maja’s injury but in the circumstances it is difficult to heavily critique the decision to let Grant go.
After scoring just three goals for the Baggies last term he was clearly surplus to Carlos Corberan’s requirements this season.
And with the club forced to cut costs it made more sense to get the 25-year-old off the wage bill, with the Shropshire Star reporting in the summer (15 July) that Cardiff are covering the “vast majority” of his “significant” wages.
Injury luck in the West Brom attack has been pretty miserable this year, but in theory when Maja and Dike are both back there would be no need to have Grant in the squad as well.
Thomas-Asante has been the main man so far anyway, with Maja only making late appearances off the bench, so Corberan will be hoping the 24-year-old can stay fit and the issue remains manageable.
The club has had to take some gambles in terms of letting players leave because of the financial situation they find themselves in and, while Grant’s versatility is a bonus, in terms of cost vs production the numbers clearly didn’t stack up during the transfer window.
In other West Brom news, the Baggies may be in line for a cash boost as a result of ongoing talks.