Cardiff City must be keeping one early eye on West Brom transfer situation | OneFootball

Cardiff City should be monitoring Karlan Grant's situation at West Brom ahead of the summer window

West Brom forward Karlan Grant is set to miss up to three months after sustaining a hamstring injury in the Baggies’ 1-1 draw away to Derby County in late January, and it looks like he will be available on a free in the summer with his contract due to expire.

Following a mightily disappointing relegation to League One last season, Cardiff City could very well have found themselves on a slippery slope, but instead, the Bluebirds look poised for an immediate return to the Championship.

Fellow relegated clubs Luton Town and Plymouth Argyle have not adapted to third-tier football nearly as well as the Welsh outfit, who are currently sitting pretty at the top of the table, closely contested by Lincoln City.

Led by Irish boss Brian Barry-Murphy, Cardiff’s adaptation to League One has been seamless, and unless a cataclysmic run of form hits them out of nowhere, they will almost certainly be playing in the second tier next campaign.

Ahead of their potential return to the Championship, the Bluebirds should be earmarking some possible additions to the squad, and may need to look no further than a player who enjoyed a productive season for them just two years ago, who looks set to be available on a free.

Cardiff City should be eyeing a potential Karlan Grant reunion ahead of a possible summer deal

Indeed, Karlan Grant spent the 2023/24 season on loan in the Welsh capital, scoring six and assisting twice in 39 league appearances for the Bluebirds, finishing as the club's top scorer alongside right-back Perry Ng.

The former Charlton Athletic and Huddersfield Town man was one of the few bright attacking sparks in the Cardiff squad that season, and though his goal tally wasn’t particularly outrageous, he is still remembered fondly at the Cardiff City Stadium, with supporters often hailing his consistency, defensive diligence and energy down the left-hand side.

This season with West Brom, Grant has struggled, as have the Baggies, with just three goals in 23 league appearances before sustaining a hamstring injury away to Derby County, which looks set to keep him out for the remainder of the season, meaning he has likely kicked his last ball as a West Brom player with his deal due to expire in the summer.

At 28, Grant ought to be in the prime of his career, and though this season has gone far from planned, his ability goes without question, and he could prove to be a savvy addition for a lot of sides in the Championship.

The Bluebirds should look to swoop in early to try and convince their former loan star to return to the Welsh capital permanently, especially if they do indeed earn promotion to the second tier.

After neither Erol Bulut, Omer Riza, nor Aaron Ramsey could keep Cardiff afloat last season, the Bluebirds sought a left-field name that could come in and reinvigorate the squad, and landed on Irish boss Barry-Murphy.

The 47-year-old had previously managed Rochdale and Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad prior to taking the top job at Cardiff, and has ensured the club did not continue on a downward spiral following relegation, which a lot of teams tend to do.

Instead, Cardiff are looking up and rubbing their hands over a potential return to the Championship, and Barry-Murphy should already be sounding out targets to bring in over the summer, with Grant being one.

The 28-year-old joined West Brom for £15 million from Huddersfield in October 2020, with the Englishman penning a six-year deal at The Hawthorns, which is now finally due to expire.

With just shy of 250 Championship appearances and over 70 direct goal contributions in the division to his name, Grant would be an excellent signing for Cardiff on a free in the summer, and Barry-Murphy should look to reunite the player and club this summer.