Speculation suggests that Bournemouth could re-call Lewis Grabban from Sunderland and sell him to Championship rivals Aston Villa.
It does not take a genius to work out why Aston Villa want to bring Lewis Grabban to the Midlands in January, as reported by The Sun (10th December, page 65).
With Jonathan Kodjia set for a few months on the sidelines and Scott Hogan yet to settle in claret and blue, Steve Bruce is crying out for a striker and Grabban has been in superb form this season. The 29-year-old has 11 goals in 17 games on loan at a struggling Sunderland side sitting in the Championship relegation zone.
Grabban also knows what it takes at the top level of the division too, helping Norwich City to the Premier League back in 2015/16.
And with parent club Bournemouth holding a re-call clause allowing them to cancel his loan spell at Sunderland in January, Cherries manager Eddie Howe has admitted that Grabban could indeed be sold on in the New Year.
“With Lewis, we will make the right decision for him and for us,” Howe told Sky Sports. “I think it will be something we will sit down and talk about.”
Whether this is good or bad news for Villa remains to be seen. The Sun adds that Villa are struggling under Financial Fair Play sanctions so would likely have to come to an agreement with Bournemouth to loan Grabban until the end of the season before signing him permanently.
It is unlikely that Bruce’s side could afford to pay the fee Bournemouth will demand for the in-form Grabban right now.
On the upside, though, at least they can expect that their potentially promotion-inspiring January target may be available after all. For Sunderland, it is looking like they should enjoy their star striker while they still have him.
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