Karlan Grant started his career at Charlton Athletic (Getty Images)
Charlton Athletic forward Karlan Grant is a man in demand. The 21-year-old, who is in the final year of his contract with the Addicks, is being chased by Scottish Premiership giants Rangers (h/t London Evening Standard). Premier League outfit Huddersfield Town are also strongly interested in signing the youngster. (h/t Alan Nixon of The Sun)
Having come through the youth ranks at Charlton, Grant made his first-team debut in September 2014 at the age of 17. Since then, the young attacker has gone on to make 97 appearances for the Addicks, scoring 21 times and setting up 10 more. He has also had short stints away on loan at Cambridge United (Jan-Feb 2016) and Crawley Town (Jan-May 2018).
Grant is enjoying his best season this time out. Having already bagged 14 goals and assisted 5 more in 27 League One matches, he has helped the Addicks to the fourth place in the English third division. The 21-year-old has been directly been involved in over 40% of his club’s goals in the League One and it is natural that clubs are lining up to sign him.
So, which club should Grant choose – Huddersfield or Rangers?
The Terriers find themselves in a difficult situation in the Premier League. Huddersfield are currently rooted to the bottom of the table in the English top-flight, having collected just 11 points from 23 matches so far, with just two wins.
Their latest game ended in a 3-0 defeat to reigning Premier League champions Manchester City, following which they are eleven points below safety. Given their current plight, David Wagner quit from his managerial post earlier this month, with Huddersfield bringing in former Borussia Dortmund B team boss Jan Siewert as his replacement.
Goals, or lack thereof, has been a major concern for the Terriers this term. They have scored just 13 times in the Premier League – the lowest by any team. Defender Mathias ‘Zanka’ Jorgensen is the club’s leading scorer with 3 goals. Frontline strikers Steve Mounie, Laurent Depoitre and Adama Diakhaby have netted just one goal between them.
So, it makes total sense that Huddersfield are looking at a new striker and someone like Grant, who is young and has a solid all-around game would be a good addition.
While the Terriers are struggling at the bottom of the table, Rangers are fighting it out with bitter rivals Celtic for the Scottish Premiership title. The Gers, under Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, are currently second in the Scottish top-flight, level on points with leaders Celtic.
It is clear that the Light Blues are a team on the rise, with their charge led by leading goalscorer Alfredo Morelos. However, the Gers lack a goal threat of a similar level of threat as the Colombian, with summer signing Kyle Lafferty not proving all that effective. While they have recruited Jermain Defoe on loan from Bournemouth, the Englishman is in the twilight of his career and will most likely be used as an impact substitute rather than the leading man.
Hence, the Gers’ interest in a dynamic, young forward like Grant, who has shown all the attributes of growing into a potent marksman in the coming years makes complete sense.
Huddersfield may offer the chance of Premier League football for Grant, but are currently in a spot of bother and with an inexperienced new manager at the helm, are very much likely to end up in the Championship next season.
On the other hand, Rangers are making huge strides under Gerrard and are competing for the league title against their arch-rivals. And even if they end up coming second in the title race, European football is a guarantee at the Ibrox Stadium next season. And that is why Grant would be better off choosing a move to Scotland rather than moving to Huddersfield.
