As the heat of January transfer window starting to hit new heights amid some heavy spending by the big clubs around England, we take a look at some of the loan signings that made massive impact on a team. While some of the names mentioned below can be attributed to big clubs, clubs with smaller budgets have benefited the most from this lifeline in the transfer market.
Here are top 5 loan signings in the Premier League history: –
1. Jurgen Klinsmann
Now serving on the post of manager for the United States of America’s football team, the World Cup winning German had 2 short stints in England during his playing days. While you would have expected a player of his caliber to be approached by the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea, the German made Tottenham his home not once but twice during his 2 decade long playing career.
While he was a permanent member of Tottenham for the 1994-95 season, Klinsmann was sold by Spurs and then brought back on loan from his parent club Sampdoria in the winter of 1997-98 season. The German took the Premier League by storm during his 6 month stay at White Hart Lane as he bagged in 9 goals in just 15 appearances for the Whites during his short spell.
2. Romelu Lukaku
Currently playing for the Merseyside based outfit Everton, Romelu Lukaku was once described as a prized asset for Chelsea however, due to an excessive increase in firepower up-front available at his peril, Jose Mourinho decided to part his ways with with Lukaku at the start of this season.
Now playing for a club where he 1st impressed as a loan signing, 2013/14 was a year when the Belgian impressed his future bosses at the Goodison Park. Being loaned out by Chelsea for a full season at the start of last season, Lukaku scored 15 goals in 31 appearances for the blues and was a main reason of their challenge for a top 4 spot, which was later squandered by Arsenal.
3. Alexandre Song
Even though Premier League has seen some exciting surprises this season from teams like Southampton and Newcastle off late, the rise of West Ham cannot be deciphered so easily as the aforementioned teams. Having a manager that was given an ultimatum last season to improve or go home, Sam Allardyce’s men have kept not only their manager, but the burden of hopes of their fans.
Leading from the midfield and anchoring the play to players like Stewart Downing and Andy Carroll is the former Arsenal player Alex Song who has been phenomenal since coming on loan from the Spanish side Barcelona. Having featured in 15 Premier League matches for West Ham this season, the Cameroon National has created the 4th most chances for his team-mates from a deep lying midfield role.
4. Daniel Sturridge
Even though Premier League hasn’t seen the best out of the Englishman this season as a result of injuries that has haunted him this season, Daniel Sturridge has been one of the hot prospects in the Premier League. Being a better half of the partnership of SAS that bagged 51 goals for Liverpool last season, Sturridge has been missed brutally by Liverpool so far.
However, before impressing at Liverpool and giving his audition on the grand stage of Champions League, it was his loan spell at the Bolton Wanderers where Sturridge caught everyone’s attention. In a brief 6 month spell for the relegation fighting Bolton, Sturridge scored 8 goals in 12 appearances to save the Trotters from the relegation battle in 2011-12 season.
5. Gylfi Sigurdsson
Although the Iceland International has undergone a flop spell at the White Hart Lane for 2 seasons in which he scored just 8 goals in 58 appearances for the Whites, this season has galvanized his approach as Swansea are sitting comfortably in the top half of Premier League table. Having notched 4 goals with a staggering 8 assists to his name, Sigurdsson has been a main player for the Welsh side this season.
However, this stage might not have been possible if the Icelander didn’t give his audition at the Liberty Stadium on loan. Before making England his permanent home for years to come in 2012/13 season with Tottenham, Sigurdsson featured on loan for Swansea City in a spell in which he scored 7 goals in 18 appearances for the Whites.
Top 5 loan signings in Barcalys Premier League history
No comments:
Post a Comment