Today, loan signings play a very important role in many Bundesliga squads. Players out of favour at one club often come in and make a really positive impact at their new team. The problem comes however when the loan spell comes to its end, and the player has to return to his parent club.
Often the coaches and fans would dearly love the player to stay on a more permanent deal, but finances then come into play. This season is no different, so here we take a look at seven loan signings their respective clubs would do very well to keep hold of.
Marko Grujic (Hertha Berlin)
The 24-year-old central midfielder has spent the past two seasons in Berlin and is due to return to Liverpool at the end of the season. Hertha have paid €3 million in loan fees over that time.
Grujic has his heart set on returning to Anfield even if his playing time at would be severely limited. Speaking at the start of the year he said: “I know it’s going to be tough. I’m not stupid. I know that Liverpool right now are an unbelievable team—the best team in the world. So, I know that I have to be at a very high level if I want to have a chance.”
Should he not make it, a further loan or a permanent move could be on the cards. With their newly acquired Lars Windhorst wealth, Hertha would easily be able to cover his €14.5 million valuation.
With 320 duels won, he ranks 12th in the Bundesliga and is only behind Vladimir Darida at the club in distance covered with 259.8 km. His all-action style is highlighted by the fact he ranks third in the league for fouls committed (51).
Jonjoe Kenny (Schalke)
The English right back has been one of the bright lights in what is turning out to be a rather dismal campaign for Schalke. An instant hit in the Bundesliga and voted Rookie of the Month for August, he has missed just two league matches all season, scoring once and providing three assists.
This form is what will work against the Königsblauen at the end of the day. His development as a player has been such that Everton will be keen to take that talent back to Merseyside. It is also highly unlikely that Schalke would have the financial means to sign the player on a permanent deal with a current transfer valuation of €9.5 million.
Kenny ranks second at the club for pressures in the defensive third behind Omar Mascarell and is second at the club for distance covered with 282.2 km.
“My focus is on the games here at Schalke 04,” Kenny said recently. “After this season? What happens, happens. “I have not heard so much from Everton, as they are in a difficult phase. They have other things to focus on.”
Achraf Hakimi (Borussia Dortmund)
During his two-year spell at Dortmund, the Moroccan fullback has bloomed into one of the best in Europe in his position and faces a big decision this summer over his future. There is no doubt that BVB would like to tie him to the club long-term, but like Grujic, the pull of returning to his parent club and proving himself could prove stronger.
Five goals and ten assists this season in the Bundesliga has just confirmed his quality. Hakimi is ranked fourth in the entire league right now for possession and leads the club for crosses from open play (52). He’s sixth overall in the Bundesliga for intensive runs (2061) and leads the entire division for sprints (972). He’s also the fastest player amongst the 18 clubs having clocked a top speed of 36.20 km/h.
His agent has recently admitted that while the player’s ultimate aim is to end up at the ‘best team in the world’ (Real Madrid), there’s no need to rush in taking a decision on his immediate future. “He will link back up with Real Madrid when the season finishes. We’ll see what happens after that,” Camano told Onda Madrid. “He wants to play games, like this season, where he has started every match. There’s no rush. His only aspiration is to play games to help his development.”
Whether that development continues at the Signal Iduna Park or switches the Bernabeu is the hot topic of conversation right now.
Patrik Schick (RB Leipzig)
Having made the loan switch from Roma in the summer transfer window, the Czech striker has made quite the impact in Saxony for die Roten Bullen. With 9 goals in 18 appearances he has made a huge contribution to RB’s challenge for a top four finish. With Timo Werner’s future still not 100% decided in Leipzig’s favour, keeping Schick would be a huge boost for the club.
Again, money will be the decisive factor. Leipzig have the option to sign the player for his €29 million release clause at the end of the season, but in these Corona virus-hit times, that fee could be greatly reduced.
Speaking in mid-May his agent Pavel Paska said: “At the moment, intensive negotiations are taking place. Everyone knows that the fee will be lower,” he told iSport.cz.
“There is still plenty of time, and it would be unwise for both sides to make any hasty decisions. The negotiations will drag on, and the resumption of the Bundesliga will also play a role in this regard. [Schick] is always calm and in a comfortable situation. It will end well. There is interest from other clubs as well, but we are clearly focusing on Leipzig.”
Mark Uth (Köln)
At Schalke it seemed that Uth couldn’t hit a cow’s backside with a banjo, but whilst on loan at Köln has gone some way to rediscovering the sort of form that made him such hot property when at Hoffenheim.
Uth provides something a little different for the Billy Goats upfront, something unique from Anthony Modeste, Jhon Cordoba or Simon Terodde. In 11 Hinrunde appearances for Schalke Uth failed to find the back of the net at all, but with Köln in the Rückrunde, he has hit 5 and added 5 assists.
The Rhinelanders would like to keep him but will not want to pay the full €10 million release clause Schalke would demand.
Kevin Vogt (Werder Bremen)
After falling out with Hoffenheim coach Alfred Schreuder 28-year-old Vogt found a welcoming home at the Weser Stadion, where his experience has proved important as the Grün-Weißen attempt to claw their way out of the relegation zone.
The player clearly has burnt his bridges with the Breisgauer and has no future in Sinsheim. Should Werder avoid the drop, he’s be keen on remaining, but the finances at the club are precarious to say the least and his €8 million valuation would prove a sticking point for Werder’s sporting director Frank Baumann.
Zack Steffen (Fortuna Düsseldorf)
The US international goalkeeper was one of the stand-out performers for Fortuna in the first half of the season playing every match of the Hinrunde and grabbing the headlines with his match-winning saves. The second half of the campaign has so far been a complete wash-out for the 24-year-old after suffering a knee injury.
He is due to return to English side Manchester City at the end of the season, but his chances of breaking through there still look rather slim.
“I don’t know what will happen next season yet. It’s too early for a decision, but everything is possible,” the 24-year-old has told Bild. “As a young goalkeeper, I need games and experience at the top level. That’s what I’m getting at Fortuna. I have a good situation here.
“Extending my contract here would only be an option if we stay in the Bundesliga” he added.
