Lewis Grabban has seven goals in nine Championship starts for Aston Villa since arriving from Premier League Bournemouth in January.
It is no coincidence that three sides in the Championship’s top four all signed a striker on loan from the Premier League in January and have thrived since.
Benik Afobe helped fire Wolves to the league title after returning to Molineux from Bournemouth, Aleksandar Mitrovic has transformed Fulham into genuine automatic promotion contenders, and Aston Villa’s position in the end of season play-offs is thanks in part to the impact made by Lewis Grabban.
Like Afobe, Grabban moved to the Midlands on a temporary deal from Bournemouth in January and, like Afobe, he has been in excellent form ever since.
The 30-year-old scored twice in the 4-0 win at Ipswich Town on Saturday to take his tally to seven goals in nine starts, after netting 12 in 18 for Sunderland during the first half of the Championship campaign.
And according to the Birmingham Mail, Villa could sign Grabban permanently this summer, although they need to earn a place back in the Premier League before they can fund a deal for a striker who cost £7 million in January 2016.
This is far from an easy decision. Grabban is a prolific Championship goal-scorer but has struggled in the top flight, netting just once in nine Premier League games throughout his career.
Yet, it seems Grabban has done enough to convince Villa supporters that he is worth keeping hold of.
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