Newcastle United dropped their interest in Huddersfield Town striker Karlan Grant because of his £16 million price tag and have left the door open for West Bromwich Albion, according to the Mail.
With funds tight and no Saudi Arabian investor with money to burn, Magpies boss Steve Bruce appears to have adopted a risk-free approach to the transfer market – and who can blame him?
In Ryan Fraser, Jeff Hendrick, Jamal Lewis and Callum Wilson, the Tyneside giants are expected to have four proven Premier League performers in their ranks by the time the new season kicks off on Saturday.
At £20 million, Wilson is the most expensive of the quartet but arrives with a proven track record in England’s top flight, scoring 14 goals in 2018/19 for Bournemouth while forcing his way into England’s Nations League finals squad.
Grant also has an enviable record at Premier League level but, compared with Wilson, the sample size is tiny.
He scored four times in just nine starts as Huddersfield were relegated last year.
But, according to The Mail, Newcastle felt a £16 million fee for a striker who has spent the vast majority of his career in the Championship and below was far too much.
West Brom have had a bid for Grant rejected but are expected to return with another as Slaven Bilic looks to add a lethal goalscorer to his ranks.
Grant scored 19 times in the Championship for struggling Huddersfield in 2019/20 – nine more than anyone at the Hawthorns.
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