West Brom could recall Karlan Grant amid injury crisis after Carlos Corberan comments
West Brom could opt to recall Karlan Grant from his loan spell at Cardiff after Carlos Corberan admitted a return to The Hawthorns was not off the cards.
Given the ongoing injury crisis at the club, with Josh Maja likely ruled out until the end of the season, and the possibility of Brandon Thomas-Asante going to the African Cup of Nations with Ghana after he was named in the provisional squad, a recall could be a serious possibility.
Without those two key players, West Brom will be left without an out-and-out striker to turn to, and Grant could fill that role if absolutely necessary to avoid any transfer spend.
Speaking to the Express & Star [14 November], Corberan shared: “It’s impossible to close doors on players who are a part of this club. They still have contracts – Grant has two years more from next summer.
“With Grant, I’d say, before he went for the loan, that the way he came to pre-season I was thinking that this is a player who wanted to recover his level and we considered that the best way for him to rediscover his level was to move him from here.”
The boss went on to say Albion would reevaluate Grant’s situation in the summer but given the urgency of which they need to find a replacement striker if Thomas-Asante leaves for AFCON in January, those talks could be accelerated.
Grant has scored just two goals and provided two assists in 21 Championship appearances while on loan at Cardiff this season, far from the numbers West Brom would be demanding from their strikers to help them push for the playoffs, but given the situation, needs must.
It has been widely reported that the Baggies may be forced to sell players in January to help balance the wage bill, meaning any incoming deals look even less likely to take place despite the possibility of a takeover happening ahead of the transfer window.
In that case, the option to bring Grant back to The Hawthorns may provide the only opportunity to replace Maja and Thomas-Asante, or Corberan’s side will have to use a makeshift striker as they have on occasion with Jed Wallace this season.
In other West Brom news, the boss has provided a new injury update.