Máximo Perrone (Manchester City to Como)
It seemed very sensible to send the creative midfielder to learn more about top-flight football under the tutelage of Cesc Fàbregas, although Perrone would probably have had opportunities at City amid their recent injury crisis. Como are back in Serie A and have attracted an eclectic group of players, including Sergi Roberto and Alberto Moreno. Perrone has made eight league appearances and sits alongside Roberto in front of the defence where he has looked composed and capable of instigating attacks with his intelligent use of the ball. The Argentinian is happy to collect facing his own goal and smart in tight spaces.
David Datro Fofana (Chelsea to Goztepe)
The striker knows a thing or two about being loaned with this being his third spell – all in different countries – away from Stamford Bridge. Fofana was close to moving to AEK Athens but eventually found his way to Goztepe. He scored a 90th-minute winner in his second appearance but that has been his only goal in six matches, half of which he has started on the bench. Chelsea must be desperate for him to get some regular minutes after questionable spells with Union Berlin and Burnley but he is yet to light up the Super Lig.
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Omar Richards (Nottingham Forest to Rio Ave)
The full-back arrived at Forest with a broken leg in 2022 and has been unable to show he is worthy of playing in the Premier League, instead spending time with sister clubs Olympiakos and Rio Ave, becoming a multi-club ambassador to increase his stature at the City Ground. The left-back has been regarded at Rio Ave as a steady influence, helping them to a respectable mid-table position, but is having to start over again with a new head coach after the sacking of Luís Freire. He began well under Petit, enjoying his best game in a Rio Ave shirt in a 2-0 win over Boavista.
Fábio Silva (Wolves to Las Palmas)
Considering the paucity of striking options available to Gary O’Neil, it says a lot that the Wolves manager was willing to let Silva head out on loan for a fourth time. At Las Palmas he is starting to show some of the promise that caused Wolves to spend about £35m on a teenager with next to no first-team experience. He has had decent, if not outstanding, sojourns with Anderlecht, PSV and Rangers but, at 22, needs to start delivering on a consistent basis. The Portuguese has taken his three goals well against Villarreal, Valencia and Rayo Vallecano, and impressed with his displays, and is reportedly keen on staying beyond the season.
Neal Maupay (Everton to Marseille)
When leaving Everton the French striker compared himself to Andy Dufresne escaping prison in The Shawshank Redemption, though all Maupay had to do was sit on the bench under Sean Dyche. Freedom meant moving to Marseille for Maupay, clearly upset by the shackling he felt at the club where he scored once in 32 appearances, and even that a deflection. Maupay has joined forces with Roberto De Zerbi, helping Marseille to third, behind Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco, with two goals – and one red card.
Louie Barry (Aston Villa to Stockport)
Stockport took a chance on the former Barcelona youngster last season after he had some disappointing loans and he lit up the fourth tier with his speed and direct style, helping ignite the promotion charge before injury forced him out for a lengthy period. Amid interest from the Championship club Swansea, Stockport lured him back and the natural finisher has continued to blossom. It speaks volumes about Barry that he picked the team where he would best develop, rather than moving to a higher division for the sake of it. Stockport are in the playoff positions as they prepare to face their rivals Wrexham on Saturday, mainly thanks to Barry, who has 10 goals in 15 games.
Joe Whitworth (Crystal Palace to Exeter)
It is not often in the professional men’s game that we find a goalkeeper standing lower than 6ft but Whitworth is an outlier at 5ft 9in. The 20-year-old picked up some first-team experience at Palace in March 2023 amid an injury crisis but this is his first sustained period playing league football. He broke a record for Exeter by keeping five clean sheets in a row, has only conceded 10 goals in 13 appearances and went viral with an incredible flick to bamboozle a striker when under pressure during a man-of-the-match display against Shrewsbury.
Ben Doak (Liverpool to Middlesbrough)
Middlesbrough fans are worried that the Liverpool teenager is doing too well at the Riverside and that it could result in a swift January exit to a higher standard for the Scotland international. He is regarded as a special talent and too good for the Championship, having celebrated his 19th birthday on Monday. The attacker has scored one and created three more, and is growing in confidence each week. Boro have scored 12 across their last four matches and Doak finding his rhythm is a key part of that.
Samuel Edozie (Southampton to Anderlecht)
The former Manchester City youngster made three appearances for his parent club at the start of the season before it was decided his time would be better spent in Belgium. Russell Martin is convinced the winger has a future at St Mary’s but wanted greater proof after being in and out of the team during their promotion campaign. At Anderlecht he has been exposed to the Europa League, scoring in the win over Ludogorets, which can only aid his development. Edozie and Anderlecht endured a poor start, causing Brian Riemer to be sacked in October, but sit fourth. In his nine league appearances, the highlight was his first goal, a fine individual run and rasping finish at Dender.
Alejo Véliz (Tottenham to Espanyol)
After a forgettable spell with Espanyol, Véliz needed to have an impact in La Liga to show his evolution. Aged 21, the Argentinian striker has played 650 minutes in La Liga this season but has only one goal, admittedly one that brought down the house when he spun inside the area to score a 96th-minute winner against Rayo Vallecano. Véliz has dropped to the bench in recent weeks in the league, but there was a morale-boosting hat-trick in the Copa del Rey against sixth-tier San Tirso. Véliz and Espanyol will be desperately hoping it is a platform for better things as they sit in the relegation zone with 11 goals in 12 matches.
