It won't be too long until Tottenham's loan players are back in north London with the end of the 2021/22 campaign edging ever closer. With Friday marking the start of April, players have limited time remaining to catch the eye before their respective loan deals draw to a close.
As is always the case with loan moves, Spurs have enjoyed some success and also some difficulties over the past few months. So what exactly does the future hold for the Tottenham players currently out on loan as Antonio Conte makes his plans for 2022/23? football.london takes a look.
Tanguy Ndombele (Lyon)
The summer of 2022 is a big one for Tottenham's club-record signing as his incredibly mixed time in N17 could finally come to an end. Signed by Mauricio Pochettino from Lyon in July 2019 after some outstanding displays for the French side in the Champions League, things have just never fully clicked for him in his time in the capital.
READ MORE: Tottenham players who face crucial end to the Premier League season with Antonio Conte
Ndombele has impressed in patches but has never maintained his top form over a consistent period, with Jose Mourinho perhaps seeing the best of him for a spell in 2020/21. Now back at Lyon on loan after current boss Conte allowed him to depart, the Ligue 1 side do have the option to make his move permanent for £54million at the end of the campaign.
Conte's stance on Ndombele is pretty clear as he was moved on despite Spurs having a lack of numbers in central midfield and a permanent exit looks to be the best option for both parties.
Verdict: Summer exit
Bryan Gil (Valencia)
Signed last summer by Fabio Paratici in a deal that saw Erik Lamela head to Sevilla, Gil played a bit-part role in the first few months of the season before returning to Spain on loan. Now playing his football with Valencia, the young winger has caught the eye since heading to the Mestalla with some stunning performances that have left Lo Che fans calling for him to be signed permanently.
Those calls will only grow louder between now and May, especially if the Spaniard can help his team to Copa del Rey final success against Real Betis next month. Conte knows full well that he has some player on his hands at Tottenham but he has made it clear that his player needs to become stronger and more physical if he is to cope with life in the Premier League.
The boss clearly wants players at Tottenham who are ready for his first team and he has a huge decision to make over Gil once he returns to Hotspur Way in the summer.
Verdict: Loan if not part of Conte's plans for 22/23
Giovani Lo Celso (Villarreal)
Injuries have hampered Lo Celso's time at Tottenham since his move from Real Betis in August 2019. As is the case with Ndombele, the Argentine has demonstrated his qualities on occasions but Spurs have never seen the very best of him over a sustained period.
Perhaps a surprise that he was allowed to depart on loan right at the end of the transfer window given many expected him to remain in Conte's plans, the fact he was given the green light to leave doesn't exactly bode well for him in north London. Regular game time has come his way since returning to La Liga with Villarreal, playing his part in the league and also their superb Champions League triumph over Juventus.
A summer exit will be the best option for both parties.
Verdict: Summer exit
Pape Matar Sarr (Metz)
Paratici's Tottenham rebuild commenced last summer with some exciting, young players coming in through the door and some experienced heads making way. Sarr was the Italian's last signing of the summer transfer window, but the Senegal international immediately returned on loan to Metz so he could get some regular minutes under his belt.
A regular in the side to begin with, the 19-year-old has found himself in and out of the team since October and Spurs will be hoping his situation improves before the term draws to a close. Conte and his coaching staff will take a good look at the player when he returns to the capital in the summer and they will then have a decision to make whether he remains for 2022/23 or heads out on loan again.
Given the boss wants players who are ready for the first team as he targets success at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, another loan may be more beneficial unless he really makes his mark during pre-season.
Verdict: Loan if not part of Conte's plans for 22/23
Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic)
Carter-Vickers is now with his seventh different loan club after heading to Celtic on the final day of the summer transfer window. The 24-year-old has really impressed during his time at Celtic Park and the club's fans will be hoping that his loan move becomes permanent in the summer.
Celtic do have the option to make his move permanent if they so wish, with reports suggesting that some Premier League clubs are also keen on the centre-back going on his form north of the border. Carter-Vickers, who did play for Tottenham in the Europa Conference League against Pacos de Ferreira at the start of the season, needs to move on permanently for the sake of his career and settle somewhere rather than constantly heading out on loan.
Verdict: Summer exit
Troy Parrott (MK Dons)
Parrott's first spell away from Tottenham on loan didn't exactly go to plan after ending the season on loan with Ipswich Town after initially heading to Millwall in the Championship. Now back in League One with MK Dons, the Republic of Ireland international is thriving with the Buckinghamshire club and more than playing his part in their promotion push.
The goals may not have flowed for the striker at Stadium MK but he has impressed with many other aspects of his game and become a first-team regular in the process. Another loan spell at a higher level would certainly be beneficial to the 20-year-old in his development, with a return to MK Dons something that may have to be considered if they do indeed end up winning promotion to the Championship.
Verdict: Loan move
Kion Etete (Cheltenham Town)
Etete has had quite the season after wowing in League Two with Northampton Town before moving up a division and joining League One side Cheltenham Town in January. The striker may only be 20 years of age but his frame, strength and rapidly increasing development has seen him make quite the impression in his time away from the club.
Etete just needs to keep progressing in his career and another loan spell, perhaps at a higher level, would do him the world of good.
Verdict: Loan move
Jack Clarke (Sunderland)
Tottenham fans do look back at the summer of 2019 and question the club's transfer dealings with their four summer additions failing to make a big impact in N17 so far. Clarke was in fact Tottenham's first signing since January 2018 when he made the move from Leeds United but he has only made four appearances in cup competition since his switch.
Not enjoying the best of loan spells at Leeds and QPR before injury cut his time at Stoke City short 12 months ago, the York-born player is now showing what he's about at Sunderland. Needing a permanent move to help get his career back on track, Clarke will enter the final year of his Spurs contract this summer and that means the club have a call to make one way or another.
Verdict: Summer exit
Nile John (Charlton Athletic)
John is now on loan at Charlton Athletic as he looks to gain some valuable first-team experience in his quest to become a Tottenham regular in the future. However, the midfielder has yet to make an appearance for the Addicks in 12 games so far, only making the squad on four occasions.
Spurs haven't had the best of luck with some loan moves in the past and John's lack of action will not have gone down well at all with the club. Tottenham will be hoping for more success next campaign if he is to head out on loan again.
Verdict: Loan move
Kacper Kurylowicz (Potters Bar Town)
Kurylowicz headed to Potters Bar Town at the start of the year to gain some valuable experience in a first-team environment. As is the case with a number of other youngsters at the club, another loan switch would be the best option for the shot-stopper.
Verdict: Loan move
Alfie Whiteman (Degerfors)
Whiteman returned to Sweden in February to link up with Degerfors for the duration of the 2022 Allsvenskan season, which runs until November. The goalkeeper's contract at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium does expire this season and that means the club must decide whether to offer him fresh terms of part with him.
Verdict: Loan move
