Top 20 Youngsters Who Should Be Loaned out in January
Here are the top 20 European-based football prospects who should be loaned out in the January transfer window to speed up their development.
To be considered for this list, a player must be 21 years or younger, so someone like Barcelona's 22-year-old Martin Montoya would not qualify for this list.
How are the top 20 youngsters who need to be loaned out in January ranked? Upside. It’s purely subjective.
No list is exhaustive, so if you believe a young gun on the books of a European club should belong on this list, feel free to comment below.
20. Tom Rogic, Celtic CAM, Age: 20
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Tom Rogic's vibrant cameo appearance for Australia in a 1-0 win over Costa Rica once again reaffirms how valuable he can be for the Socceroos.
What made his display noteworthy was him being inactive at Celtic because he isn’t rated by manager Neil Lennon.
"I've seen careers wither on the pine and we don't want to see that with Tommy," former Socceroo Robbie Slater wrote in The Daily Telegraph. "He's too good to sit on the bench."
Suggested Loan Destination: Heracles Almelo
Will Rogic's mooted loan move to J-League club Vegalta Sendai, managed by mentor Graham Arnold, sink if Michael McGlinchey joins Vegalta?
Should this happen, Rogic should go to Heracles where his transition will be made easier by compatriot Jason Davidson.
Rogic will challenge Mikhail Rosheuvel, who has scored one goal and created two in 16 league games, for the right forward position.
In an ideal situation, Rogic will play a false winger role which enables him freedom to dictate from a wide and central area.
19. Julian Green, Bayern Munich LW/RW, Age: 18
2 of 20Julian Green, a duel youth international for Germany and the United States, is the prized possession of Erik ten Hag's Bayern Munich II side.
Green has scored 15 goals and created six goals in 18 league games which has Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola talking.
"He's [Green is] better on the left than right," Guardiola said, via a tweet from Bundesliga Fanatic editor-in-chief Cristian Nyari. "His movement is very good and has a good nose for goal."
Green needs to be playing at a higher level than the Regionalliga Bayern (English equivalent is League Two).
Suggested Loan Destination: Nurnberg
None of Nurnberg's wingers have scored five goals or created five goals.
With midfield maestro Hiroshi Kiyotake in the team, Green can cash in because of his movement and "good nose for goal."
18. Piotr Zielinski, Udinese CAM, Age: 19
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Piotr Zielinski, a promising playmaker who could be a set-piece specialist in several years, averages 11.4 minutes per Serie A game this season.
Luis Muriel, Roberto Pereyra, Bruno Fernandes and even the inconsistent Maicosuel have all received more minutes behind Antonio Di Natale than Zielinski.
Suggested Loan Destination: Granada
If Zielinski cannot break into the starting XI of a Pozzo-owned club, why not try another one?
17. Giorgi Chanturia, Vitesse RF/LF, Age: 20
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The Vitesse career of Giorgi Chanturia, whose playing style is reminiscent of Arjen Robben, is nearing an end.
He is not even a consistent starter at a club owned by his compatriot, Georgian Merab Jordania, whose partnership with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has adversely affected Chanturia's playing minutes.
He has only made two starts this season and was sent out on loan to Alania Vladikavkaz last season.
Whether it's playing hero ball or lashing out at opponents, what Chanturia needs to address is his attitude.
Suggested Loan Destination: Crystal Palace
Palace need another player other than Yannick Bolasie and Jason Puncheon who is willing to run at defenders.
Chanturia can be to Palace what Georgi Kinkladze was to Manchester City.
16. Ryo Miyaichi, Arsenal RAM/LAM, Age: 21
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In the two years and seven odd months since then Feyenoord loanee Ryo Miyaichi ripped Willem II apart with two goals and two assists, he has bitterly learned how it feels to be Abou Diaby.
An ankle, calf, groin, hamstring, shoulder and rib injury are some of the impediments to Miyaichi's progress.
Suggested Loan Destination: Feyenoord
Ruben Schaken is a handy player but he has only created two goals in 10 starts as a right forward, so a fully fit Miyaichi is a chance to displace Schaken in the starting XI.
15. Wilfried Zaha, Manchester United RAM/LAM, Age: 21
6 of 20
The Wilfried Zaha-Lauren Moyes story gained so much traction that even Mark Ogden at The Telegraph covered it.
Amid dealing with that fiasco, Zaha has had to endure taunts of being a bust.
Truth is, he's hardly featured in David Moyes' team
It's bizarre because Ashley Young has played more minutes than Zaha despite being more likely to win a penalty via a dive than scoring or creating a goal.
Suggested Loan Destination: Cardiff City
Don Cowie and Peter Whittingham have only completed a combined 11 dribbles this season.
Cardiff should try a Craig Noone-Zaha tandem wing duo since the two thrive on getting past opposing players.
14. Luis Alberto, Liverpool DLF/RW/LW, Age: 21
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"I don't feel out of place anywhere and I'm comfortable out wide," Luis Alberto said when he arrived at Liverpool, via David Prentice at The Liverpool Echo. "On either right or left wing, through the middle, as a false nine—I can play in every position."
Even with a willingness to sacrifice for the team, Alberto has been a bit-part player under Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.
Suggested Loan Destination: Real Valladolid
Valladolid right attacking midfielder Patrick Ebert can't be saving the team every week with world-class crosses, so having Alberto start as the deep-lying forward behind No. 9 Javi Guerra could be fruitful.
13. M'Baye Niang, AC Milan RF, Age: 18
8 of 20
M'Baye Niang is on a 28-Serie A-game (and counting) goalless run.
When he has been subbed on, he's been industrious in pressing opposing players while trying to score (38 shots without a league goal in his Serie A career thus far).
He has only started one league game this season, so a loan to a smaller club where he plays regularly will be more beneficial for his development.
Suggested Loan Destination: Montpellier
Montpellier, a team that average a goal per game, have been heavily reliant on Remy Cabella, who has scored and created 50 percent of the club's goals.
Niang, an explosive forward, will be eager to impress and can help reduce Cabella's workload.
12. Ishak Belfodil, Inter Milan CF, Age: 21
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Ishak Belfodil showed ability at Parma being able to outmuscle the opposing centre-back, shoot or find an open teammate.
This is why his goals (eight) to assists (four) difference was not as lobsided as other No. 9s who don't even look to create.
However, Belfodil only started 66.7 percent of his league games at Parma, so jumping into the deep end at Inter Milan, a big club with lofty expectations, was a risky career decision.
It hasn't paid off as he has only started one Serie A game this season.
Suggested Loan Destination: Ajaccio
Ajaccio have scored 12 goals in 18 games and have started nine different players in the centre forward position.
The most goals an Ajaccio player has scored in Ligue 1 this season is two.
Belfodil can walk straight into Ajaccio's starting XI, a team that in recent weeks have been crying out: "SOS!"
11. Jan Oblak, Benfica GK, Age: 20
10 of 20Why are Benfica keeping Jan Oblak, a goalkeeper with elite potential, on the sidelines?
Either anoint him as the successor to Artur Moraes or loan Oblak out till his time to be Benfica's No. 1 comes.
Not giving him consistent reps will stunt Oblak's growth as a keeper.
Suggested Loan Destination: Southampton
Artur "Cruyff turn" Boruc is out for the foreseeable future with a broken hand.
Paulo Gazzaniga, Boruc's deputy, has a woeful 41.7 save success percentage, so Southampton should bring in Oblak, who will provide better cover.
10. Jonas Hofmann, Borussia Dortmund RAM, Age: 21
11 of 20When Jonas Hofmann took seven minutes to score after coming on as a substitute against Eintracht Braunschweig, Borussia Dortmund thought they found their super-sub.
Well, about four months on, that is his only Bundesliga goal this season.
All his league appearances thus far have been as an impact sub but he's had little impact.
His shots per game, key passes per game and dribbles per game are below 0.5.
He isn't a Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting-type of substitute, so it's clear Hofmann would be more suited as a starter where he can work himself into games.
Suggested Loan Destination: Eintracht Frankfurt
If you rearranged the Bundesliga ladder to only show the last six matches, Frankfurt would be last with one point.
Takashi Inui and Tranquillo Barnetta have toiled hard to no avail—no goal, one assist between them.
Hofmann should be tactically versatile enough to replace either Inui on the left or Barnetta, who's had an extended run as a deep-lying forward.
9. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Bayern Munich CM, Age: 18
12 of 20When Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was at his lowest, Bayern Munich went the extra distance to console him.
He was trying to comeback from ligament damage in his foot. Then he was told by Danish doctors that his dad was likely to lose the battle against cancer.
In reaction, Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness contacted Germany's best doctors to treat Hojbjerg's father.
Hojbjerg and Pep Guardiola cried together upon discussing such a challenging life event.
There seems to be a happy ending with him revealing such intimidate details and there being no bad news about his father.
What Guardiola did was class (which you expect from him) but as promising Hojbjerg is, the teenager needs to be playing more regularly.
Suggested Transfer Destination: Nurnberg
With Nurnberg in the relegation zone, it opens up an opportunity for Hojbjerg.
He also gets to stay in Bavaria where his Bayern support network are still close to him.
8. Leon Goretzka, Schalke CM, Age: 18
13 of 20Leon Goretzka, the 2012 Fritz Walter medalist for most promising U-17 player, has had to bide his time at Schalke this season.
Yes, his ceiling for success is higher than Roman Neustadter but the latter sweeps up play well and is far more experienced being seven years older.
Even with Marco Hoger's season-ending injury, Goretzka has yet to start three successive league games under Schalke manager Jens Keller.
Suggested Transfer Destination: Freiburg
Freiburg manager Christian Streich's ideal centre midfielder is 6'2" or taller, strong in the tackle and calm in possession: that sums up Goretzka.
Look, Freiburg need all the help they can get if they are to avoid relegation.
7. Ryder, Fiorentina CF, Age: 20
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Ryder's three goals in six UEFA Europa League games have given Fiorentina management hope that they have a special talent.
He completes a high percentage of his passes, gets into good positions and has that X-Factor.
Though, Fiorentina are stacked in the centre-forward ranks, with Giuseppe Rossi in-form and Mario Gomez set to return from injury.
Suggested Loan Destination: Academica
The Portuguese-based environment is ideal for Ryder and he could be the player that solves Academica's goal-scoring woes since the club have only registered seven goals in 13 league games.
6. John Guidetti, Manchester City CF, Age: 21
15 of 20
Can John Guidetti come back stronger than ever?
A debilitating illness stopped his meteoric rise after he scored 20 goals and set up another eight in 23 games on loan at Feyenoord.
Is Feyenoord a possible loan option? No.
Graziano Pelle is one of the most prolific scoring strikers in the last two seasons, scoring 40 goals in his last 44 league games.
Suggested Loan Destination: Sunderland
When Phil Bardsley is Sunderland's equal top scorer in the Premier League with two goals, it's clear they need another alternative.
Guidetti, an excellent finisher, gets a chance to showcase his talents in England.
5. Diego Reyes, Porto CB, Age: 21
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Diego Reyes played beyond his years at the 2012 Summer Olympics when Mexico won Gold.
Reyes has high character which factored in him making BBC football pundit Garth Crooks' team of the tournament:
"The centre-back epitomised the solidarity and cohesion of the Mexican team. Team coach Luis Fernando Tena was keen to impress upon me during a press conference that team effort had been key to getting the central American outfit to their first ever Olympic final. BBC commentator Steve Wilson watched all their games and agreed that Diego Reyes played a major role in that team ethic.
"
Reyes has been playing in the Segunda Liga for Porto B and was left on the bench in three of Porto's UEFA Champions League games.
Suggested Loan Destination: Almeria
Almeria have conceded 32 goals in 16 league games and allow opposing teams to shoot 17.3 times per game.
They are not a good defensive side, so Reyes should be in contention to play regular minutes in La Liga.
4. Sergi Roberto, Barcelona CM, Age: 21
17 of 20Sergi Roberto only played eight minutes against Villarreal yet he made 13 passes.
He is poised in possession as he is willing to receive the ball in tough situations and make tough passes look simple because of his immaculate technique.
People rave about Neymar's dominance in the 6-1 win over Celtic but overlook Roberto completing 95 passes with a 97 pass-completion percentage.
He, Xavi and Sergio Busquets set the tone by taking over in midfield.
Suggested Loan Destination: Everton
Good environment for Roberto because Everton manager Roberto Martinez is Spanish, the club play possession-orientated football and former Barcelona B teammate Gerard Deulofeu is part of the team.
Roberto will be competing with James McCarthy, Leon Osman and Gareth Barry for a starting spot.
A tough task but a lot easier than trying to beat out Busquets, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Alex Song.
3. Kenneth Omeruo, Chelsea CB/RB, Age: 20
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Kenneth Omeruo is in the good books of Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who has high hopes that the Nigerian defender can become a staple in the Blues' starting XI sooner rather than later.
"The way he [Mourinho] talks about me, and says 'Kenneth, my friend', gave me the impression he actually likes me," Omeruo said, via Henry Winter at The Telegraph. "After the Nations Cup when he came in, Mikel told me Jose asked after me. So I was happy that he recognises me."
Omeruo could be the world-class centre-back that Chelsea are searching for.
Suggested Loan Destination: Fulham
Getting Omeruo on loan would be a godsend for Fulham manager Rene Meulensteen.
Fulham are tied with Sunderland for most league goals conceded this season (30 in 16 games).
2. Jese, Real Madrid LAM/DLF, Age: 20
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"I want to play, and I don't know if I'll get many minutes in the Real Madrid first team," Jese said, from Marca via Sky Sports. "I don't know what the club wants with me. I assume they will want to offer me a renewal but I don't know what I will do."
This was before he signed a contract extension with Real Madrid.
Despite scoring against Barcelona and creating two goals against Almeria, Jese has yet to start a La Liga game.
Real see him as an impact sub whereas his 22 goals and 12 assists for Real Madrid Castilla last season plus five goals in four FIFA U-20 World Cup games for Spain indicate to you that he should be a starter at a top-flight team.
Suggested Loan Destination: Getafe
He would be an upgrade over Diego Castro on the left flank.
Another tactic is starting Jese as a deep-lying forward behind target man Ciprian Marica or Adrian Colunga.
1. Leo Baptistao, Atletico Madrid CF, Age: 21
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Leo Baptistao's future is unclear.
Raul Garcia, who has scored five times in La Liga and three times in the UEFA Champions League (also has three assists), is an option as a deep-lying forward to Diego Costa or David Villa.
So if Costa or Villa are out, Garcia is more likely to start than Baptistao.
Suggested Loan Destination: Rayo Vallecano
Going back to his old club and helping them avoid relegation will be a feel good story.
Statistics via WhoScored, FFT Stats Zone, Squawka and Transfermarkt.
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