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Rob Guest

Ndombele struggle, Udogie wows, Scarlett excels - Tottenham loan players rated for season so far

Tottenham have not always had the best of luck when it has come to the loan market. Picking the right club has proved to be quite troublesome at times, thus seeing some players struggle for minutes while others excel elsewhere.

Spurs, at present, have nine out on loan across the globe, with players in France, Spain, Italy and Sweden, as well as two who have stayed a bit closer to home. So how have they fared since their exits from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium? football.london rates all nine players below.

Destiny Udogie (Udinese)

Catching the eye for Udinese last campaign and coming to the attention of a number of Europe's best clubs in the process, Tottenham won the race for Udogie's signature midway through August. Loaned back to the Italian side as part of the deal, the Italy U21 international has continued to wow since returning to his home country.

READ MORE: Perisic impact, calm Bentancur, Son struggle - Spurs players and Conte rated for season so far

Udinese are currently riding high in third in Serie A and are only one point off Napoli at the top after seven games. Udogie has played a key role in their strong start, notably scoring two goals in his first six appearances of 2022/23, including one in the thumping 4-0 win over Jose Mourinho's Roma.

Showing what he's all about against Inter Milan last weekend with another eye-catching display, his manager Andrea Sottil stated he was "surprised" Roberto Mancini had not called up the player to the Italy squad for their upcoming UEFA Nations League games. The left-sided player will have to make do with a place in the U21s for now but it won't be long until he's in the senior side if he continues to progress at his current rate. 9

Joe Rodon (Rennes)

Needing regular first-team football ahead of the World Cup with it not coming his way at Tottenham, Rodon departed N17 for Rennes at the start of August. Perhaps a surprise move for some given many expected him to join a fellow Premier League team, he appears to have made the right choice going on his start to life in France.

Starting seven of their eight Ligue 1 fixtures and playing the full 90 minutes in the process, the 24-year-old was also on the scoresheet in the recent 3-1 win over Brest. Losing twice in their opening four league games, Rennes are unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions and have made a decent start to Ligue 1 and the Europa League.

Following their 1-1 draw away at Marseille last Sunday, he was named man of the match in French media outlet Foot Mercato and also named in the team of the weekend by some other publications following his display. Rodon is thriving at his new club and that will only benefit Wales ahead of their World Cup campaign. 8.5

Troy Parrott (Preston North End)

Following such a fantastic season with MK Dons in League One last term, Parrott has stepped up to the Championship this season after linking up with Preston North End. The Lancashire club currently sit 15th in the table after drawing six of their first ten games, with scoring goals currently a major problem for the team after only managing to net the three.

Parrott has yet to score for Preston in the league since his loan switch but he did manage to net in their emphatic 4-1 Carabao Cup win over Huddersfield Town at the start of August. Despite his and Preston's woes in front of goal, he has started all ten of their league fixtures since his move from Tottenham.

Starting the season well, Parrott's confidence appears to have taken a knock due to Preston's issues in front of goal. Goals will come for both the player and team, though, but it is something they need to solve sooner rather than later. 6.5

Dane Scarlett (Portsmouth)

Whereas Parrott headed to the Championship, Tottenham decided to send Scarlett to League One side Portsmouth for his very first loan spell. It has proved to be an incredible decision for all parties with the 18-year-old excelling at Fratton Park.

Coming off the bench in his first couple of games for Pompey before getting a huge ovation for his performance from the start against Cambridge United, the Spurs loanee registered a brilliant assist late on in his next game in their 3-1 win over Bristol Rovers.

Boss Danny Cowley did state that Scarlett would go on a scoring run once he netted his first for the club, which came at Port Vale a week after his assist against Bristol Rovers. Scoring in his following two games, which included a fine double against Peterborough, the striker has made an immediate impact at his new club and really hit his stride.

Scarlett has made such a good start to life on the south coast and plenty more is to come from him between now and May. 8.5

Tanguy Ndombele (Napoli)

After such an underwhelming loan spell back at Lyon at the end of last season, it was always going to be a pivotal summer for Ndombele. With a permanent exit from Tottenham not coming his way, the Frenchman headed to Italian side Napoli at the end of August.

The player has not enjoyed the best of starts in Naples with limited pitch time coming his way. Starting two of his five Serie A appearances, Ndombele was hooked at the break in both with Luciano Spalletti clearly not seeing enough from him.

Coming on for the final few minutes in his other three league games, he was an unused substitute for their outstanding 4-1 Champions League win over Liverpool before coming off the bench for seven minutes and scoring in the 3-0 win at Rangers. Both Tottenham and Napoli need more from the player at present if his loan move is to be a success. 4

Harry Winks (Sampdoria)

Another to head for Italy at the end of the transfer window was Winks. Joining Sampdoria on a season-long loan deal with the Serie A side having the option to buy him, the player has yet to make an appearance for his new team.

Reports in the Italian media have claimed that he arrived at the Genoa-based club with an ankle injury and that he was not yet at the required fitness level. The international break does give the player the chance to put himself in a position for their upcoming game against Monza, although Sampdoria's official website stated on Friday that he did his own session on the training pitch and was once again away from his teammates. N/A

Sergio Reguilon (Atletico Madrid)

Reguilon also finds himself in the same boat as Winks after his loan move to Atletico Madrid. Having a groin issue at the back end of last season, the problem resulted in the player undergoing surgery the week before his return to the Spanish club.

As is the case with Winks, he will be looking to make an impact for his new club once domestic football resumes. N/A

Giovani Lo Celso (Villarreal)

Recapturing his best form after returning to Spain and joining Villarreal on loan back in January, Lo Celso returned to Estadio de la Ceramica in the summer with no future for him at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The player does appear to have slotted straight back into Unai Emery's side as he has started in all five of their La Liga games so far, with the Argentine netting in their 4-0 win over Elche.

Lo Celso has not featured for his team in the Europa Conference League, however, as he was an unused substitute vs Lech Poznan before not making the squad away at Hapoel Beer Sheva. 7.5

Alfie Whiteman (Degerfors)

Playing his football in Sweden, Whiteman is picking up plenty of experience between the sticks for Degerfors. Starting 21 of their 23 league games, the 23-year-old was only on the pitch for eight minutes last weekend after sustaining concussion following a nasty blow early on against AIK.

Degerfors are currently in a battle to stay up as they sit 14th out of the 16 Allsvenskan teams and in the relegation play-off place. Only managing to keep one clean sheet since his move, a few more from Whiteman before the end of the campaign would definitely help the team's cause. 6.5

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