Premier League loan signings can be some of the most astute transfers top-flight sides can make in the market, however, more than times than not, these types of moves turn out to be some of the worst.
From Arsenal signing Kim Kallstrom on loan with a broken back to Radamel Falcao joining both Manchester United and Chelsea to hilarious results, temporary transfers have an unusually bad rap in the Premier League, and this season has been no exception.
Some big clubs have gambled on signing players on loan, and whilst some have flourished such as Philippe Coutinho, Conor Gallagher and Armando Broja, more have failed after winning a temporary move to a new side, and here is our XI for the season of the worst of the bunch.
GK – Pierluigi Gollini
Hugo Lloris is a giant at Tottenham and is arguably the best goalkeeper to play for the club in the Premier League era. Yet at the age of 35, it’s now time for Spurs to start considering a long-term replacement for the Frenchman, and Pierluigi Gollini was seen as that man.
A star for Atalanta and their recent rise, the Italian was signed on loan with a view of making the transfer permanent this summer. However, the shot-stopper has failed to make any impact at Tottenham, and Gollini is now set to return to Bergamo at the end of this month with his tail between his legs.
RB – Axel Tuanzebe
The first of three Manchester United players in this XI, Axel Tuanzebe heading back to Aston Villa on loan seemed like a genius loan move at the time, with the defender previously flourishing at Villa Park and under Dean Smith.
Fast-forward to January, though, and the United academy graduate was already back in Manchester ready to head out to Italy with Napoli after Villa terminated their loan spell with the defender, with Steven Gerrard not the biggest of fans of Tuanzebe.
CB – Alex Kral
Another defender who looked set to impress out on loan was Czech Republic youngster Alex Kral, who has been billed as one of his nation’s most promising talents and a player who could flourish at West Ham after joining previous success stories Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal.
Sadly, the youngster has failed to make the grade at West Ham this season, and reports now indicate that David Moyes’ side won’t be signing Kral on a permanent deal this summer despite his sky-high potential.
CB – Ozan Kabak
After impressing at Liverpool last season on loan, Ozan Kabak was viewed by many as the defensive saviour Norwich City would need if they were to avoid their widely-predicted relegation back down to the Championship.
However, like Thanos claiming the Infinity Stones, a 20th-place finish is inevitable for Norwich regardless of who they sign, and Kabak has struggled to adapt to life at Carrow Road this season, with the Canaries set to return to the second-tier.
LB – Brandon Williams
Just like with Kabak, Brandon Williams was signed by Norwich on loan to aid with their defensive efforts for the season, and whilst the Manchester United talent has fared better than his Turkish teammate, the fullback has still performed below par this campaign.
With his United future up in the air, a poor loan spell is the last thing Williams needed this season, and with change set to hit the Red Devils like a steam train this summer, the defender could be offloaded in the coming months.
CM – Saul Niguez
The highest-profile loan signing of the summer window for a Premier League side, it was perhaps not too surprising that Saul Niguez ends up on the worst XI for the season after failing to make an impact at Chelsea.
It’s easy to forget that the Spanish midfielder was once one of the best in his position in the world and a talent who Atletico Madrid would never have dreamed of selling. Yet football is a strange game, and like Falcao, Gonzalo Higuain and Alexandro Pato, Saul has flopped at Chelsea on loan.
CM – Billy Gilmour
From one poor loan signing made by Chelsea to a Blues player struggling away from Stamford Bridge, Billy Gilmour looked ready to explode onto the scene this season at Norwich, yet just like Williams and Kabak, the youngster has done the exact opposite.
Hailed as the future of the Scotland midfield and one of Chelsea’s most exciting prospects, Gilmour’s development has taken a major hit this season after failing to hit any sort of form at Norwich, and next season will hopefully see the youngster return to his former best.
CM – Ozan Tufan
Like Tuanzebe, Ozan Tufan came and went from Watford in the blink of an eye, with the Turkish international playing just nine games for the Hornets before returning to his home country to reclaim his spot with Fenerbahce.
Viewed as a replacement for Will Hughes and Nathaniel Chalobah, Tufan struggled to get to grips with Premier League football, with the midfielder completing 90 minutes just once in his doomed tenure at Watford.
CAM – Donny van de Beek
Everyone and their mother was crying out for Donny van de Beek to leave Manchester United on loan in the summer, and six months later, the talented Dutch midfielder was finally allowed to leave his Old Trafford servitude to join Everton.
Despite joining the club where failed United signings go to live out the rest of their years, Van de Beek has struggled under Frank Lampard, but with Erik Ten Hag joining the Red Devils next season, the former Ajax star could win a starring role under his ex-manager.
ST – Francisco Trincao
We’re slightly cheating in this next section by placing two wingers in the striker position, but with Broja and Wolves star Hwang Hee-chang the only centre-forwards to join Premier League clubs on loan this season, Francisco Trincao takes one of the spots.
Hailed as an incredible piece of business from Wolves, FC Barcelona-owned Trincao has quickly become a player who many forget was even at a Premier League club this season, with the Portuguese youngster set to return to Catalonia at the end of the campaign.
ST – Anwar El Ghazi
Anwar El Ghazi has often been an underrated Premier League player for Aston Villa, yet since joining Everton in January, the attacker has barely been given a chance to showcase his talents which could have helped the Toffees in their relegation battle.
The Dutchman has played a whole 11 minutes of Premier League football since moving to Goodison Park, and El Ghazi could do with leaving England as a whole this summer if he is to get his career back on track.
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