Next West Brom Manager Will Have a Decision to Make Over Future of £15m Man: Opinion
West Bromwich Albion are preparing for a significant summer of change. With the 2025/26 season on the horizon, the club is set to appoint a new manager following a turbulent period at The Hawthorns. The Tony Mowbray appointment ultimately failed to deliver the stability or success the club had hoped for, placing the pressure firmly on owner Shilen Patel and the board to get their next managerial choice absolutely right.
A host of names have been linked to the West Brom hotseat, but so far, there has been little in the way of concrete developments. Regardless of who takes over, the incoming boss will have a long list of critical decisions to make – and one of the more intriguing dilemmas centres around Karlan Grant.
The 26-year-old forward, once seen as a marquee signing when he arrived from Huddersfield Town for a reported £15 million in 2020, has endured a mixed spell at The Hawthorns. He’s had flashes of promise, notably during the 2021/22 season when he hit double figures in the Championship. But inconsistency and subsequent loan spells – including a recent stint with Cardiff City – have raised questions about his long-term future at the club.
Grant is under contract until the summer of 2026, but his role at West Brom is far from assured. With his significant wage and the fact that he’s not been a regular fixture in the first-team plans in recent seasons, the new manager will need to assess whether he’s part of the project moving forward or if the club should look to move him on while they can still command a fee.
Financially, West Brom remain in a delicate position. The departures of players like Grady Diangana, Semi Ajayi, and John Swift at the end of their contracts will ease some strain, but reinforcements are still needed – particularly in attack. That could open the door for Grant to play a part, but it would likely require a refreshed level of commitment and consistency from a player whose performances have often flattered to deceive.
Of course, there’s always the possibility that a new manager could unlock the potential that Grant still possesses. At his best, he is a versatile attacker with pace, an eye for goal, and the ability to stretch defences – qualities that can be invaluable in a promotion push. But at £15 million, the return on investment so far has been underwhelming, and fans may have run out of patience.
Ultimately, the decision over Karlan Grant’s future will serve as an early test for the incoming boss. Keep him and hope to revive his form? Or cash in and reinvest in a younger, more dynamic forward?
Whatever the choice, it’s clear that this summer will be one of the most defining for West Brom in recent memory – and the handling of the Grant situation will be a key chapter in that story.
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