Players from around the Premier League, including Liverpool and Southampton talents, need game time next season so should seek summer loan transfers.
Highly-rated youngsters and experienced stars throughout the top-flight have struggled to establish vital first-team roles at their clubs this season. David de Gea has so far enjoyed the most minutes in the league at 3,330.
The Spaniard has started in all 37 of Manchester United’s fixtures and has played each and every minute on offer. He is the only player across all 20 clubs to have a 100% record with one game remaining in their season.
Hugo Lloris and Jose Sa could join De Gea when Tottenham Hotspur and Wolves play their penultimate games on Sunday. England defender Conor Coady has played the most minutes by an outfield player at 3,228 to date.
But while they are mainstays at their sides, stars elsewhere continue to wait to enjoy similar success. So, with that in mind, here is a theoretical line-up of Premier League players who should seek loan transfers this summer.
Caoimhin Kelleher (GK): Liverpool gem should seek Premier League loan transfer
Caoimhin Kelleher has often impressed when the goalkeeper has featured for Liverpool. But his appearances between the sticks at Anfield this season have been too far and in-between to develop into a first-choice name.
The Republic of Ireland international has only featured in two Premier League fixtures after facing Watford in October and Chelsea in January. Jurgen Klopp also only turned to Kelleher with Alisson unavailable for both.
Klopp has a high appreciation for what the four-cap shot-stopper can produce, however. He fielded him in the Carabao Cup final with Chelsea in February, after which Virgil van Dijk told BeIN Sports he was ‘outstanding’.
Yet Kelleher should now seek to grow as a player by leaving Liverpool on loan for a Premier League side next season. The 23-year-old has shown he is a more than capable understudy, but has the potential to be more.
Ki-Jana Hoever (RB): Wolves player must leave on loan to prove Premier League skill
Ki-Jana Hoever should leave Wolves on loan this summer to prove he has the potential to be a Premier League player. Bruno Lage has rarely shown faith in the right-back since replacing Nuno Espirito Santo last year.
The 20-year-old has so far featured in just eight of the Molineux side’s top-flight fixtures this term for 305 minutes. Just four of his appearances have also come in a starting role, and has not featured at all since March 5.
Lage last unleashed the Netherlands U21 international in a league game with Crystal Palace. But an injury forced Hoever off in the 25th-minute, and left the Wolves boss fuming at the defender’s lack of preparedness.
“Ki is a good example of the young kids, they want everything to happen [now],” he said, via Sky Sports. “When you are out and your teammate is playing, and you are not training at the intensity, you are not preparing yourself.
“And after, when you have a chance, these kinds of things happen. I have too many kids in my team that sometimes don’t work the way they should work. They do not prepare the way they should prepare.”
Mads Bech Sorensen (CB): Brentford player needs loan after lack of action
Brentford centre-half Mads Bech Sorensen will need a loan transfer next season after a lack of action since the Bees’ promotion into the Premier League. He has so far played just nine times for a total of 718 minutes.
The 23-year-old was a key part of Thomas Frank’s plans on route to sealing a seat at the top-flight table. He made 32 appearances in the Championship last term, starting 29. But a step up in division has proven tough.
Malang Sarr (CB): Premier League chance after Chelsea loan exit yet to work out
Malang Sarr returned to Chelsea at the start of the 2021/22 Premier League season after the former Nice player spent last term on loan with Porto. He moved to Portugal straight after joining the Blues for free in August 2020.
Yet a chance to prove himself under Thomas Tuchel is yet to pan out for the 23-year-old. He has so far played just 515 top-flight minutes at Stamford Bridge across seven appearances. Sarr has also only started in six matches.
Jamal Lewis (LB): Premier League loan vital as Newcastle player struggles
Jamal Lewis should find a loan transfer within the Premier League is vital to proving to Eddie Howe he has a future at Newcastle United past the summer. If not, the left-back could leave St James’ Park for good this year.
The Northern Ireland international only played five times this season, with four under Howe, before the Toon boss left Lewis out of his 25-man Premier League side. He also only played 24 times under Steve Bruce last term.
Now, TEAMtalk report Lewis is one of several fringe players Howe is willing to sell to bolster his transfer budget. But with a £38.5k-a-week contract until 2025, the £20m signing from Norwich could still have a future yet.
Tim Iroegbunam (CM): Aston Villa gem can enhance Steven Gerrard’s appreciation
Tim Iroegbunam can further enhance Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard’s appreciation for his potential with a loan transfer this summer. The 18-year-old has shown at PL2 level that he can possess a bright Villans future.
But senior chances have so far proven scarce with his three Premier League outings – all this season – totalling 91 minutes. He also enjoyed 73 of those after starting at home to Norwich on April 30 as the holding option.
Gerrard rewarded Iroegbunam with appearances against Leicester City and Norwich after a solid showing in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Brentford. Per Birmingham Live, Aston Villa faced the Bees in the April break.
Josh Dasilva (CM): Injuries scupper chance to step up from Championship.
Josh Dasilva was a vital presence at Brentford last season, as he made 30 appearances in the Championship for five goals and four assists. But a hip injury ended his campaign in February and kept him out for almost a year.
The 23-year-old returned this February but after four appearances, would not feature in six after a red card against Newcastle. Dasilva has since enjoyed three further outings, yet has only started twice with the Toon one.
Frank may now question if Dasilva is a Premier League player and could look to send him out on loan. But the Bees boss would have to weigh up losing him as depth and if the midfielder needs to return to the Championship.
Will Smallbone (RM): Southampton gem needs loan after injury nightmares
Will Smallbone should be knocking on Ralph Hasenhuttl’s door demanding to be sent out on loan this year. The Southampton gem has only featured in three Premier League games this season after nightmares with injuries.
The midfielder could only feature once between recovering from 10 months out with an ACL injury before sustaining a calf injury in December. He has since enjoyed two further outings, but is in desperate need of regular minutes.
Cole Palmer (CAM): Manchester City gem ready to step up with loan
Manchester City gem Cole Palmer has proven at U23s level that he is ready to step up and prove himself, but will need a loan transfer. The versatile 20-year-old has offered nine goals and five assists at youth level this season.
Yet Pep Guardiola has so far only played Palmer across four Premier League games for 121 minutes. His 11 senior outings across all competitions this term also only total 413 minutes from just four starts to date.
Keeping Phil Foden at the Etihad Stadium against sending him out on loan worked for the England international. But with the competition for places at Manchester City, Palmer may not enjoy the same successes.
Nathan Tella (LM): Southampton gem could benefit from summer loan
Nathan Tella may benefit from leaving Southampton on loan, having struggled to hold down a regular Premier League role. Hasenhuttl has only started the 22-year-old in nine of his 13 appearances so far this season.
The versatile winger has also failed to score or provide a league assist over his 738 minutes of action to date. Southampton likely expected to see Tella take his game up a notch after scoring and assisting once in 18 last term.
Marcus Forss (ST): Brentford striker will need another loan next term
Marcus Forss left Brentford to join Hull City on loan in the January market, but struggled to impress in orange-and-black. Across 11 Championship games, the Finland international only started five and scored just once.
The 12-cap striker had to give up the chance to become a Premier League player this season after only starting one of seven appearances following the Bees’ promotion. He also failed to score in any of his outings.
Now, Forss is among the many players belonging to Premier League clubs who should be seeking loan transfers this summer. His Hull record will not impress Frank, and will struggle to enter the Bees side next term.