The players on loan across Europe and what the future might hold

Lingard has ignited West Ham, Kean and Tomori are shining abroad while Guendouzi is going through ‘football puberty’… the loanee lowdown across Europe as stars play for their futures with handful of games remaining

• Players out on loan will be looking to impress as the season draws to a close
• Jesse Lingard has been one of the standout loan players in the Premier League 
• Moise Kean and Fikayo Tomori are both enjoying loans outside of England
• Sportsmail takes a look at the players on temporary deals across Europe 

The ‘business end’ of the football season is an important time for any player but no more so than for those who are out on loan.   

There are just a handful of games left for players to make their mark before the end of the season. 

Some who have spent the 2020-2021 campaign away from their parent club will be hoping to work their way back into their first-team fold while others will be looking for a permanent exit. 

Sportsmail takes a look at the players out on loan across Europe and what the future holds

Jesse Lingard has been the standout loan signing in the Premier League this season while others like Moise Kean and Fikayo Tomori have benefited from leaving England. 

Gareth Bale, Ross Barkley and Matteo Guendouzi have had more mixed experiences. 

With the domestic campaigns drawing to a close, Sportsmail takes a look at 12 players who are out on loan across Europe and what the future may hold for them after this summer. 

Few could have predicted just how well this loan deal would work out for both parties.  

Lingard has nine goals and four assists in just 12 games and is in the best form of his career. His most prolific Premier League season at Manchester United came in 2017-2018 when he managed eight goals and six assists in 33 matches.

The midfielder has helped fire the Hammers into contention for a place in the top four and David Moyes has already made it clear he would love to sign him permanently in the summer. 

The 28-year-old is certainly enjoying his football once again and in March he was called back into the England squad after a two-year absence. There is every chance he will want to stay in East London beyond this season but it will depend on United’s stance, their asking price and whether any other clubs provide competition.

Jesse Lingard has nine goals and four assists since joining West Ham from Manchester United

Gareth Bale

It was a deal that seemed to come out of nowhere but one that looked like a good fit for both the player and the club.

Bale needed to get game time after falling out of favour at Real Madrid and Spurs wanted to add another attacker to play alongside Harry Kane and Son Heung-min. 

The Welshman started the season slowly as he returned to fitness but picked up form in February with four goals and two assists in four games. His hat-trick against Sheffield United took him to 14 goals in all competitions – making him the third leading scorer behind Kane and Son.  

Bale never seemed completely comfortable playing under Jose Mourinho but his recent performances indicate he still has plenty to offer.

Daniel Levy is set to give Spurs’ incoming manager the chance to sign the winger on loan again next season in a move that would likely be beneficial for both parties.

Gareth Bale has scored 14 goals since returning to Tottenham on loan in the summer

Moise Kean

The 21-year-old striker never really looked settled at Everton following his £27.5million move from Juventus in 2019. He endured a difficult debut season with just two goals in 33 games.

His last appearance for the Toffees came in the Carabao Cup against Fleetwood before he joined Paris Saint-Germain in October.

Kean has flourished in France with 16 goals in all competitions – including one in the 4-1 victory over Barcelona at the Nou Camp. The forward looks more confident and appears happier playing for the Ligue 1 club. 

However, PSG don’t have the option of making Kean’s loan permanent in the summer and Juventus are said to be considering a move to take him back to Italy.

There could still be a future for him in Merseyside but Everton may be happy to part ways if they can negotiate a sizeable transfer fee.

Everton striker Moise Kean has scored 16 goals in all competitions for Paris Saint-Germain

Fikayo Tomori 

Many expected the defender to be a key part of Chelsea’s team this season but Tomori found himself out of favour under Frank Lampard and was sent out on loan to AC Milan in January. 

The centre back has impressed in the Italian capital with 17 appearances in all competitions and Milan are said to be keen to activate their option to buy him for £25m at the end of the season. 

Speaking in April, manager Stefano Pioli said: ‘We are so happy with Tomori, our plan with him is so clear,’ he is quoted as saying by Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano.

‘We want to confirm Fikayo and our plan is to keep him next season. Let’s see what happens with Chelsea.’

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has not yet had the chance to assess the defender and could still see him as part of his plans going forward.

AC Milan have been impressed with Fikayo Tomori and are considering a permanent deal

Matteo Guendouzi 

Matteo Guendouzi hasn’t played for Arsenal since he was exiled from the squad after taunting Brighton players over their wages last season. 

Mikel Arteta shipped him out on loan to Hertha Berlin in October after losing his patience and the midfielder has plenty to do to win back his manager’s trust.

The 22-year-old has been a regular for Hertha with 23 appearances in the Bundesliga. He has also netted two goals and has three assists.

It’s difficult to gauge whether he has a future at the Emirates. The midfielder clearly has talent but Arteta has shown no mercy to players that he does not see as part of his plans.  

Guendouzi was seen arguing with team-mate Matheus Cunha at half-time during Hertha’s 3-0 defeat by Hoffenheim in January and boss boss Pal Dardai has insisted he still has a lot to learn, claiming he is going through ‘football puberty’. 

Matteo Guendouzi was sent on loan to Hertha Berlin after being exiled from the Arsenal squad

Ross Barkley   

Things started brightly for Ross Barkley at Aston Villa. 

The midfielder scored in the 7-2 victory over Liverpool and was then the match-winner against Leicester in the following game. 

A hamstring injury picked up in November disrupted his season and he’s only managed one goal since then. 

There’s no doubt Barkley was playing better when Jack Grealish was in the team and his injury, as well as his own fitness struggles, have contributed to his dip in form.

Dean Smith admitted in April that Villa have not discussed the option of a permanent move at the end of the season while the midfielder has two years left on his Chelsea contract. It’s hard to envisage Barkley having a future at Stamford Bridge but it’s unclear whether a return to Villa is a possibility.

Ross Barkley had a fast start at Aston Villa but has suffered a dip in form in recent months

Martin Odegaard 

The Norwegian has made only 11 appearances for Real Madrid since joining the club as a 16-year-old in 2015. However, he has impressed in each of his loan spells with Arsenal the fourth club to have signed him on a temporary basis.

The midfielder has found the net twice for the Gunners and fans have been encouraged by his overall performances, with his display in the 3-3 draw with West Ham one of his standout moments.

It’s no secret that Arsenal would like to keep the 22-year-old beyond this season but it will be a tricky deal to negotiate. 

The fact Real did not include an option for Arsenal to buy the midfielder sugests they believe he still has a future at the Bernabeu.  

Arsenal want to keep Real Madrid’s Martin Odegaard after his impressive form for the club

Ozan Kabak

An injury crisis meant Liverpool were desperate for a centre back when Ozan Kabak arrived on loan from Schalke in January. 

The Turkey international had a difficult debut in the 3-1 defeat at Leicester as a mix-up with Alisson resulted in the Foxes’ scoring their second goal.

He has looked more comfortable since then with the Reds keeping six clean sheets in the 13 games he has played and the club have the option to sign him permanently at the end of the season. 

Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip would all be ahead of him in the pecking order when fit but Gomez and Matip in particular have had their fair share of injury problems. 

Kabak is only 21 and Klopp see him as a player he can develop.

Liverpool signed Ozan Kabak on loan in January but hold the option of a permanent deal

Joe Willock

Struggles for game time saw Arsenal’s Joe Willock join Newcastle in January and it’s been a move that has paid off for both the midfielder and the Magpies.

Willock has scored four goals in 10 games including last minute equalisers against Tottenham and Liverpool and a later winner over West Ham.

Steve Bruce has admitted he would love to keep the midfielder beyond this season and insisted conversations with Arsenal will take place. 

Speaking after Willock’s goal against Liverpool, Bruce said: ‘I believe he is enjoying it here, he wants to be in the team, but he has scored three goals and the last two, particularly the last one [the winner against West Ham] were vitally important.

‘You could see by his elation that he was delighted for the team. He’s a young lad and I’d love to keep him here and we will have some big conversations with Arsenal [about doing that].’ 

Newcastle boss Steve Bruce has shared his desire to sign Joe Willock at the end of the season

Harvey Elliott 

Liverpool have high hopes for Harvey Elliott and his season-long loan spell with Blackburn will have done little to alter their opinion.

The 18-year-old’s 11 assists and six goals saw him nominated for EFL Young Player of the Year. Only Norwich’s Emiliano Buendia (16) has managed more assists in the Championship.

The midfielder has been a key part of Tony Mowbray’s side with 40 appearances. Despite being 15th in the table, only five Championship teams have scored more goals than Blackburn and Elliott has fitted into their attacking style of play.

The next step will be whether he can force his way into Jurgen Klopp’s plans ahead of the 2021-2022 campaign. The Reds may also consider setting up a loan move with a lower Premier League club.

Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott has had an impressive campaign with Blackburn Rovers

Ruben Loftus-Cheek 

After a surprise start in Chelsea’s opening game of the season, Ruben Loftus-Cheek made the move across London to join Scott Parker’s Fulham. 

It’s been a steady campaign for the midfielder, who has made 29 appearances in all competitions, but he has only managed one goal – despite playing in a more advance role.

A permanent move to Craven Cottage is unlikely with Fulham expected to be relegated back to the Championship at the end of the season.

Tuchel has also indicated he will give the midfielder a chance to impress in the summer after comparing him to Michael Ballack. 

Ruben Loftus-Cheek is set to return to Chelsea after spending the season with Fulham

Ainsley Maitland-Niles

West Brom landed in the in-demand Arsenal man in January after giving him assurances he would play in his preferred central midfield role.

Sam Allardyce has been true to his word with the 23-year-old starting in the middle for every game since his arrival.

It looks unlikely that the midfielder will be able to help the Baggies escape relegation but he has ehanced his reputation with some fine performances. 

It is unclear whether the England international has a future at the Emirates with several clubs said to be interested in signing him. He has already spoken of his desire to play regular football rather than ‘rotting on the bench’ and will want assurances from Arteta over his role at the club.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles has been utilised in a more central role since joining West Brom

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