According to the latest reports from Daily Record’s Live Transfer Blog (22/1; 9:05), the race for the signature of Charlton Atheltic striker Karlan Grant is heating up and English clubs like Brentford, Huddersfield and Millwall seem interested. However, the report does add that Rangers are still being considered as the favourite to sign this young striker who is in the final six months of his contract.
Grant has been on the radar of Rangers for quite some time now, and Steven Gerrard was supposed to personally (The Scottish Sun) watch him in action recently. However, he had to scrap off that plan, but he ensured that someone else from the club viewed him from close quarters at the Valley.
That definitely indicates that Rangers are very keen on him and even after interest from a Premier League club like Huddersfield, the Bears are being considered as favourites to sign him.
Signing a new striker might not be a priority right now as Rangers are well covered in that department. Steven Gerrard has already signed Jermain Defoe on an 18-month loan spell from Bournemouth. On top of that, Alfredo Morelos and Kyle Lafferty are already present at the club. Therefore the club has ample depth and quality.
However, one cannot ignore the fact that Morelos could leave by the time the next season begins. The Colombian has been on an upward curve and ever since he has joined at Ibrox, he has been subject to various bids. Last summer, French outfit Bordeaux put in a bid which was rejected (BBC). Now we have reports (The Scottish Sun) that Nice put in an £8m bid for him recently which has already been turned down by Gerrard.
The forward has already managed 20 goals and 10 assists in 34 games so far and there is no way that the Bears would look to sell him for that kind of amount. Given that he is still 22, he can take his game to the next level. However, the Colombian international has also conveyed (Daily Mail) his desire of playing in the Premier League, so an English club could definitely lure him away in the future.
Therefore we feel that Grant is being eyed as a long term replacement for Morelos. Given that he is in the final six months of his contract, Rangers have a chance to sign him on a pre-contract deal which any of the English clubs don’t have. Therefore it remains to be seen whether the club would pay transfer money for him to bring him in the next few days or land him in the summer. Given Grant’s talent and capabilities, he can be a hit in the Premiership once he adjusts to the tempo and physicality of the league.
