9-goal Huddersfield Town player could leave in January: Norwich, Bristol City, and Birmingham need to be on guard

Huddersfield Town’s hopes of achieving League One promotion in the forthcoming transfer window may be dashed after Chelsea ace Leo Castledine has been linked with a recall.

According to Dan Marsh of the Mirror, the Blues may shorten Lee Grant’s loan at the Accu Stadium. Grant was the best-performing acquisition from Lee Grant’s first transfer window in West Yorkshire, and was given a full-time managerial role by Town’s American owner, Kevin Nagle.

The 20-year-old is in his second loan term away from Stamford Bridge, having scored only twice in 26 appearances for Shrewsbury Town between August 2024 and May 2025. The Shropshire outfit endured a disastrous campaign and were relegated to League Two at the end of the season.

Despite his struggles at Croud Meadow, Castledine’s move to Huddersfield in the summer was met with a sense of excitement, especially with many outsiders and pundits tipping the Terriers to mount a sustained promotion charge following a summer transfer window in which Nagle heavily backed Grant in terms of player turnover and the sums of money spent to secure some of the club’s star players.

And, while they have yet to firmly stamp their dominance on the promotion or play-off battle heading into the New Year, Castledine has not been hindered by such inconsistency, having already reached double figures when combining his goal and assist tallies, with nine goals in all competitions.

As a result, it’s not surprising that clubs higher up the pyramid are vying for his services, which may be permanent rather than on loan.

Football League World has highlighted three Championship sides who should be on high alert for this predicament.

Norwich City

The first half of the campaign has been disappointing for Norwich City supporters, but new manager Philippe Clement has given them renewed optimism.

The Belgian was appointed in place of Liam Manning and is currently preparing for his first transfer window at Carrow Road, which could have a significant impact on the club’s short-term fortunes in the relegation battle.

And, while many eyes will be on the likely retention of Josh Sargent, the aforementioned revelations suggest Castledine could be a target for the Norfolk club.

Clement’s team selections have shown that City are particularly light in terms of those who naturally fit into a ‘number 10’ role within his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, with Jacob Wright a prominent fixture in said position despite being known as a more defensive-minded or box-to-box type of midfielder.

Emiliano Marcondes offers a remedy to some extent, as well as past second-tier experience. The Dane’s season has been hindered by injuries and conditioning difficulties. Castledine’s potential extends beyond League One, making him a valuable addition.

Furthermore, his adaptability may allow him to fill a variety of roles if injuries occur in the coming weeks and months.

Bristol City

Despite a huge injury issue at Ashton Gate, Bristol City is on track to record back-to-back play-off finishes thanks to new manager Gerhard Struber’s leadership.

Several midfielders and attackers have been sidelined in BS3 in recent weeks, and the list now includes Joe Williams and Max Bird in the heart of midfield.

Sam Morsy will join the club in January on a six-month deal, but Castledine can also play in a deeper midfield role.

Even more so, questions remain about the future of Robins ace Anis Mehmeti, who has continued to be at the vanguard of the team’s attacking performance under the Austrian, scoring 12 times last season.

As a result, Castledine may be considered as a strong short-term loan substitute, or City might attempt to sign him permanently, with about 18 months remaining on his Chelsea contract next month.

Birmingham City

The Kingston-Upon-Thames native’s probable move to Birmingham City may depend on recalls from St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park as Chris Davies reshuffles his team, as clubs are limited to five loan players per matchday squad.

Lewis Koumas, who joined Blues from Liverpool in August, has battled to establish himself as a regular starter.

Castledine could potentially replace the Welsh international in B9 if the Merseyside club recalls him, as he looks to make his Championship debut.

The England youth international would provide Blues with plenty of creative spark, energy, and versatility, as he can also play out wide. Questions have also been raised about the recent performance levels of those who have replaced Demarai Gray and Patrick Roberts as late-game substitute options.