West Brom did not include a January recall clause in Karlan Grant’s loan deal to Cardiff City this summer, according to Wales Online.
The newspaper reported on its website on Saturday (30 December) that the striker will remain at the Cardiff City Stadium until the end of the 2023/24 campaign despite suggestions the Baggies would be keen to bring him back to The Hawthorn
As Albion looked to cut their wage bill down over the summer, they only sanctioned a season-long switch with no recall option which is viewed as a welcome boost to Cardiff City.
However, the Bluebirds may also be without the 26-year-old for the foreseeable future after he was withdrawn in the first half of their clash with Leicester City, with Erol Bulut suggesting that he could have ruptured his hamstring.
West Brom are facing a bit of a striker crisis currently at The Hawthorns with Brandon Thomas-Asante the only fit and available senior forward available to Carlos Corberan as the Baggies look to maintain their place in the playoff race.
Grant would have offered a fairly simple solution to that problem if the Baggies were able to recall him from his loan in South Wales, but due to decisions that were made in the summer transfer window, that is no longer an option for West Brom.
The 26-year-old hasn’t been incredible for the Bluebirds this season, only scoring four times in 24 matches but his form has improved massively over the last few weeks, which has seen him find the net against both Plymouth Argyle and Sheffield Wednesday.
If Grant’s injury is as serious as initially feared by Bulut following the defeat to Leicester City, Corberan wouldn’t have even been able to utilise his services in the second half of the season, even if he did have a recall clause in his contract.
All in all, this is nothing more than a minor blow for the Baggies in their hunt for the playoffs.
West Brom reportedly did not include a January recall option in Karlan Grant’s loan deal with Cardiff City this summer, as disclosed by Wales Online. Despite suggestions that West Brom might want to bring him back, the absence of a recall clause means Grant will remain with Cardiff until the end of the 2023/24 season. West Brom opted for a season-long loan without recall, aiming to reduce their wage bill.
This lack of recall option is viewed as favorable for Cardiff City, providing stability in their squad. However, the 26-year-old striker may face an extended absence due to a potential hamstring rupture, as indicated by his withdrawal in the first half of the match against Leicester City.
West Brom is currently grappling with a striker shortage at The Hawthorns, with Brandon Thomas-Asante being the sole fit and available senior forward for manager Carlos Corberan. Grant, if recalled, could have been a straightforward solution to this issue, but the absence of a recall clause prevents West Brom from bringing him back.
Although Grant’s performance for Cardiff this season has been modest, with four goals in 24 matches, his recent improvement, including goals against Plymouth Argyle and Sheffield Wednesday, suggests an upward trend.
The severity of Grant’s injury, as feared by Cardiff City’s manager Erol Bulut, could potentially rule him out for a significant period. Even if a recall clause existed in his contract, West Brom would be unable to utilize his services in the second half of the season.
In the context of West Brom’s pursuit of a playoff spot, the absence of a recall option for Grant is considered a minor setback. Despite the challenges, the Baggies remain focused on their playoff ambitions.
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