The end of the temporary loan window has had positive and negative ramifications for clubs in Europe, with one of the most significant drawbacks leading to teams having to commit to taking players into their squads for a four or five-month period. That has resulted in some temporary transfers being more successful than others, with a poor start at a club where you are not guaranteed to remain for an extended period of time potentially leading to a period of cameo appearances from the bench. However, some players have hit the ground running this season and are already helping their new sides achieve their goals.
Just like you are likely to return having used your bonus code, Wigan Athletic had little hesitation in securing a second loan deal for Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Christian Walton. The young Englishman helped the Latics to promotion to the Championship and the FA Cup quarter-finals during the last campaign, but his chances of first-team football at Brighton appear to be bleak in the short term due to the form of Mathew Ryan. That led to Wigan jumping at the chance to secure the 22-year-old for another season, and Walton has helped the North-West outfit move into the picture for the Championship playoffs. It is still early days but with Wigan likely to be content with survival in the second tier, Walton has already aided their efforts to achieve something special from now until May.
Wearebettors claim to be the best in the betting industry, and there is little doubting that Chelsea top the list when it comes to allowing their younger players to spend time at other teams on a temporary basis. The Blues have sent out around 40 players to get experience elsewhere and that includes Mason Mount, who is having a year in the Championship with Derby County. There are high hopes for the playmaker and the 19-year-old has already delivered five goals from 11 appearances for the Rams in all competitions. Chelsea have rarely given opportunities to their academy graduates but if Mount continues his progression under Stamford Bridge legend Frank Lampard, he will surely get a chance to represent the first team in the future.
Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes has also been touted as one for the future - both on the domestic and international scene - but after loan periods with MK Dons and Barnsley, the 20-year-old needed to find himself a place at a bigger club to show that he was capable of taking the next step forward to becoming a Premier League player. That is coming to fruition at West Bromwich Albion with the attacker already contributing three goals and two assists in nine second-tier outings for the Baggies. There are still inconsistencies which Barnes will have to improve on going forward but for now at least, the prospect has established himself as one of the most exciting players outside of the top flight.
Liverpool midfielder Ovie Ejaria spent the second half of last season in the Championship with Sunderland, but the 20-year-old has been one of the players to benefit from club legend Steven Gerrard becoming the new manager of Rangers. There is an agreement in place for a number of Liverpool youngsters to spend time at Ibrox, and that is what Ejaria will do until next summer. The England Under-21 international must improve his work-rate - he was at fault for the goal which settled the Old Firm derby with Celtic in September - but he is getting game time both in Scotland and in the Europa League and that is crucial for him right now. Having already made 14 appearances in all competitions and scored a stunning goal during a crucial European fixture at Ufa, the future looks bright for Ejaria.
One player who has failed to come close to living up to his potential is Marcus Edwards, with Mauricio Pochettino failing to get the attacker a chance in the Tottenham Hotspur first team and a loan period at Norwich City not working out. It left Edwards having made just two substitute outings in senior football just months before his 20th birthday, but the winger now finds himself in the Netherlands with SBV Excelsior and he is already making an impression in the Eredivisie. Edwards has contributed an assist in two starts and one substitute outing and with Excelsior having scored five goals when Edwards has featured from the opening whistle, it looks like he could enjoy regular outings for his new club.
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