20 Youngsters with Best Chances of Breaking Through After Loan Moves Last Term
It is the time of year when we want to see our clubs making new signings, but the phrase "like a new signing" can often get trotted out as well.
After being loaned out to other clubs—often in other countries—for a portion or all of the campaign, plenty of youngsters have now returned to their parent clubs and will be hoping to make an impact in the season ahead.
But who are these players, and just how will they get on?
Step this way to find out.
Chuba Akpom, Arsenal
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Teenage forward Chuba Akpom managed to make seven appearances in all competitions for Arsenal in the 2014/15 campaign—with his most memorable contribution coming when he won a penalty that was scored by Santi Cazorla in a 5-0 win over Aston Villa.
Seven was also the amount of games that Akpom played in during a late-season loan switch to Nottingham Forest, where he'll hope the brief experience of the Championship will stand him in good stead to impress Arsene Wenger during what looks to be a crucial pre-season.
Divock Origi, Liverpool
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Immediately loaned by Liverpool back to Lille after the Reds had paid the French club £10 million for him last summer, the Belgian forward Divock Origi didn't have the best time of it in France in 2014/15, but he'll hope the step up to the Premier League will act as an inspiration for him.
Tall and powerful, the 20-year-old certainly looks to have all the tools to succeed at Anfield, where they are desperate to add more goals to the team.
Patrick Bamford, Chelsea
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It is notoriously difficult for young players to make the grade at Chelsea, but after scoring 17 league goals for Middlesbrough on the way to being named the Championship's Player of the Year last season, you'd have thought that Patrick Bamford stands a better chance than most.
This appears to be a make-or-break summer for the 21-year-old at Stamford Bridge, with a loan move to another Premier League club a distinct possibility should he not live up to the standards set by Jose Mourinho, something that he'll be desperate to do.
Sheyi Ojo, Liverpool
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Wigan Athletic endured a mess of a season as they were relegated from the Championship down to League One, but the 18-year-old Sheyi Ojo sporadically impressed on their wings after joining from Liverpool.
Prior to pitching up at the DW Stadium, Ojo had featured on the bench a number of times for the Reds but is still yet to make his senior debut for them, something that looks almost certain to happen in the new campaign.
Marcos Lopes, Manchester City
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A loan switch to Ligue 1's Lille did wonders for the development of Manchester City's Marcos Lopes, who was a huge hit in France and has been tipped for great things by City's academy coach Patrick Vieira, according to this report in the Daily Mail.
Breaking through at a club such as City is never going to be easy, but with Manuel Pellegrini seemingly under pressure to introduce younger players into his side and freshen the squad up, Lopes could have a key role to play in 2015/16.
Saidy Janko, Manchester United
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A stunning goal on his debut for Bolton Wanderers in a win over Fulham underlined the quality of Manchester United's Saidy Janko, who will be desperate to help solve what has become something of a problem position for Louis van Gaal on the right side of the Red Devils' defence.
Some competition for Antonio Valencia would be more than welcomed by plenty of United fans, who have seen the Swiss teenager Janko star for the reserves and will be hoping he can make the step up this term.
Jon Toral, Arsenal
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Given that he was only offered a one-year contract by Arsenal—which he signed in April as per the Independent—you get the feeling that this will be Jon Toral's last chance to forge a future at the Gunners. Injury has disrupted his development before impressing on loan at Brentford in 2014/15.
The elegant midfielder has plenty ahead of him in the queue at the Emirates Stadium, but an appearance or two in the cup competitions shouldn't be out of the question if he can stay fit.
Jamaal Lascelles, Newcastle United
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When Newcastle were struggling near the foot of the Premier League table last season there were plenty of fans wondering if things would have been different had the club held onto the two players they'd signed from Nottingham Forest in the summer, and not immediately loaned them back.
Granted, 24-year-old goalkeeper Karl Darlow would still surely be an understudy to Tim Krul, but the 21-year-old England under-21 defender Jamaal Lascelles could have added pace, power and a presence in defence that the Magpies were missing, but they won't be in 2015/16.
Tiago Ilori, Liverpool
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There comes a time in a young player's career when they have to stop making loan moves and impress for their parent club, and at the age of 22, you'd suggest that time has come for Liverpool's English-born Portuguese centre-back Tiago Ilori.
Temporary switches to Granada and Bordeaux have shown the Portugal under-21 international to be calm on the ball and authoritative in defence, something that Brendan Rodgers' defenders often weren't in 2014/15, and his could be a face to watch in the new campaign if Rodgers gives him a chance to impress.
Nathan Ake, Chelsea
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He spent most of the season on the fringes of the first team squad at Chelsea, but the five games that Nathan Ake was able to play for Reading on loan at the end of the campaign would have done him the world of good, not least because he only figured in five for the Blues all season.
Tall and strong, the Dutch youngster has been tipped for big things for a while now only to suffer frustrations like plenty of other youngsters at Chelsea, so he'll see 2015/16 as the chance to enjoy a breakthrough year. Quite frankly, he needs it to be one.
Jesse Lingard, Manchester United
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As is the case for a number of players here, the forthcoming season appears to be one in which the failure to make a breakthrough into the first team should really be followed by the decision to make a permanent move to another club.
Now 22, Jesse Lingard made his fourth temporary move away from Manchester United to the Championship when he joined Derby County on loan at the end of last season, and he either needs to show his worth to Louis van Gaal or find another club to join, with goals like his fine winner for England under-21s against Sweden recently only strengthening his case.
Jason Denayer, Manchester City
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Vincent Kompany might have started creaking toward the end of last season, but hope may have arrived for Manchester City in the form of another Belgian centre-back.
The 19-year-old Jason Denayer was named as the Young Player of the Year in Scotland for his contribution to Celtic's championship victory, and after forcing his way into the Belgian team, he appears ready to make a name for himself at City, where they are crying out for young blood to add to an ageing squad.
Wellington Silva, Arsenal
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ESPN FC's claim that Arsenal are in advanced contract talks with their Brazilian winger Wellington Silva would suggest that the 22-year-old is finally ready to start his Gunners career in earnest after four years away on loan.
The moves were forced as the former Fluminense youngster was unable to get a work permit, but now he's been given Spanish citizenship he is free to fight for a place in Arsene Wenger's plans.
Andre Wisdom, Liverpool
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The arrival of Tony Pulis at West Bromwich Albion halfway through the season wasn't good news for the on-loan Andre Wisdom, who was the main casualty as the Welsh boss opted to shift Craig Dawson out to right-back and play Joleon Lescott and Gareth McAuley in the middle.
Upon his return to Liverpool, though, Wisdom has signed a new long-term contract and could be seen as crucial to Brendan Rodgers' plans following the departure of Glen Johnson, another injury to Jon Flanagan and the inconsistencies of his other defenders.
Guillermo Varela, Manchester United
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David Moyes' first signing as Manchester United manager, 22-year-old Uruguayan right-back Guillermo Varela spent last season with the Real Madrid B team.
He never really got anywhere near representing the first team at the Bernabeu, but as he returns to Old Trafford, he does so with an opportunity to impress Louis van Gaal in pre-season—and to perhaps challenge for a first-team place.
Alex Pritchard, Tottenham Hotspur
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After scoring 12 goals and contributing seven assists during his loan spell at Brentford in the 2014/15 season, winger Alex Pritchard has now got his gaze firmly set on breaking into the Tottenham Hotspur team for the new campaign.
It won't help, then, that he was forced to limp off in England under-21s' clash with Sweden on June 21, but hopefully he'll have returned to full fitness by the start of pre-season training and will be able to give his all for Mauricio Pochettino's men.
Jack Stephens, Southampton
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An England regular up to under-20 level, this could be the season that sees young defender Jack Stephens break into the first-team picture at Southampton following a couple of years on loan at Swindon Town.
Tall and elegant on the ball, the former Plymouth Argyle centre-back could be a beneficiary of the end of Toby Alderweireld's loan spell at St Mary's, although getting in the team and staying there will be a tough proposition.
Chris Long, Everton
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One of a clutch of youngsters to impress in the entertaining Brentford side that came close to promotion to the Premier League, 20-year-old forward Chris Long returns to Everton following four goals in 11 appearances for the Championship club.
Long made his Blues debut in the Europa League last season, but he'll hope for a longer and more sustained impact as he returns to Roberto Martinez's team.
Lewis Baker, Chelsea
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Breaking through into the Chelsea first team has been something that has proved to be beyond plenty of talented players in the past, but the 20-year-old midfielder Lewis Baker has done his chances the world of good with an impressive loan spell at the MK Dons at the tail end of last season.
Of course the step up in class is a vast one, but with Ruben Loftus-Cheek making the breakthrough toward the end of the last campaign, there will be renewed hope for youngsters such as Baker, who is highly regarded at Stamford Bridge.
Dele Alli, Tottenham Hostpur
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Speaking of MK Dons, their youngster Dele Alli completed a £5 million move to Tottenham in January only to spend the remainder of the 2014/15 season back at Stadium:MK on loan as the Dons clinched promotion to the Championship.
Now ready to begin his Spurs career in earnest, the England under-19 midfielder appears perfect for the footballing philosophy put in place by Mauricio Pochettino, and it would be no surprise to see him slot into the picture at White Hart Lane with ease.
