Cardiff, Charlton and Derby must be on red alert with £15m West Brom star set to leave | OneFootball

FLW lists three Championship sides who should be eyeing up a move for free agent Karlan Grant.

Karlan Grant looks set to bring his six-year stay at West Brom to an end this summer.

The 28-year-old, who signed for the Baggies in 2020 for a reported fee of £15m from Huddersfield Town, has been a polarising figure while at The Hawthorns, floating between being a prominent first-team figure to a severe outcast over the past six seasons.

After suffering relegation in his debut term from the Premier League, Grant stepped up back at second tier level, finishing as the club’s top scorer on 18 goals as Albion limped to mid-table mediocrity under Steve Bruce.

But since that excellent goalscoring campaign, Grant has been unable to reach double figures again while donning the famous blue and white stripes, with such dips in performance levels resulting in him being loaned out to Cardiff City for the 2023-24 season.

Optimism was felt by Albion supporters when he returned from his stint in South Wales with a reinvigorated work rate under Carlos Corberan, which helped bring about his second-highest scoring tally while in the Black Country, but a serious hamstring injury at the turn of 2026 resulted in Grant missing a large portion of the Baggies’ end to the season.

Despite Albion wanting to hand him a contract extension, journalist Darren Witcoop has reported that the forward is set to wave goodbye to The Hawthorns, alongside Daryl Dike and Josh Maja.

After featuring 145 times for West Brom in that time and netting 32 goals, there are no signs as to where Grant’s next destination will be, but he may well be targeting a return to a Championship rival, with a fresh environment hopefully reigniting the goalscoring prowess he’s shown in the past.

Therefore, FLW has listed three second tier sides who should consider moving for Grant on a free transfer during this summer transfer window.

Cardiff City

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There’ll be no surprise to see Cardiff City on the list of clubs who should target a move for Karlan Grant, particularly when he was so impressive and developed into a fan favourite during his loan spell in South Wales.

Unable to break into the Albion setup, Grant moved away to Cardiff and firmly found his feet under Erol Bulut, starting 37 of the 39 Championship games he was available for, notching six goals and two assists in the process.

Grant’s versatility was a major plus point for the Bluebirds too, being utilised primarily on the left wing, but also as a centre forward and very occasionally on the opposite flank.

Meanwhile, with Cardiff returning to the Championship, they will be searching for added second tier pedigree that can help them survive in their first season back, and bringing someone like Grant back into the fold, who Cardiff fans know what to expect from, could go a long way in helping them retain their Championship tags come the end of the 2026-27 campaign.

On a free transfer, it seems worthwhile for Cardiff to take a punt on Grant again, where he would be hopeful of picking up from where he left off.

Charlton Athletic

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Another former employer who could hand Karlan Grant a second spell is Charlton Athletic, who was an academy graduate at The Valley, coming through into the first team setup in 2014.

Grant made his breakthrough in the Addicks’ League One campaign in 2018-19, netting 14 times in 28 third tier appearances, which led to Huddersfield Town landing the attacker in the January transfer window of that season and giving him his first shot at Premier League football.

For Charlton, against all the odds, they survived their first Championship test under Nathan Jones in impressive fashion, and will now have their sights set on establishing themselves as Championship regulars, while rising up the table and potentially being involved in the promotion mix at a push.

Grant is somebody who could well be favoured in Jones’ system, with Grant able to play as an attacking midfielder behind the striker, while also leading the line himself when called upon.

Again, that added versatility is something that is so appealing about Grant, and you wouldn’t rule him out making a move back to where it all began for him.

Derby County

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The third and final club that could make a move for Karlan Grant this summer could well be Derby County, who are in search of an extra wide addition during this transfer window.

The Rams have already been touted to make a move for Brighton attacker Tommy Watson, but Grant could be an appealing alternative given his previous experience in the Championship and the fact he would join on a free transfer.

When looking at Derby’s squad, the Rams’ only recognised wide option on the left is Corey Blackett-Taylor following Ben Brereton Diaz’s return to Southampton, and he has been painfully injury prone while at Pride Park.

Therefore, an added option out wide is desperately needed to navigate the trials and tribulations of a demanding 46-game season, and Grant could be the shrewd addition that Derby need to get into the promotion mix once again.

While it could be argued Grant has had his injury woes himself at the back end of the last campaign, the 28-year-old has usually been a dependable and effective asset as he closes in on a career total of 250 second tier appearances.

Because of this, Derby could well add Grant to their shortlist, who would add both Championship