5 EPL players who shouldn't be out on loan

#3 Pablo Maffeo (Manchester City)

Maffeo keeps his eye on Cristiano Ronaldo during battle

Known to all, Pep Guardiola has spent a small fortune on players over the past 2 seasons for Manchester City (a startling fact was that he's spent more already than Arsene Wenger has during his whole tenure at Arsenal). Some, like goalkeeper Ederson and left winger Leroy Sane, have come into the first team and enhanced it greatly, Ederson a world-class sweeper keeper and Sane is perhaps boasting one of the best left-foots since Ryan Giggs in his prime. Others, though, have seen little action despite arriving for a huge fee and the feeling is that they have blocked the path to the first team for several talented youth players.

One such example is Pablo Maffeo, on loan in La Liga with Girona. Now in his 3rd season at that club, he helped them gain promotion from the Segunda Division last season but hasn't looked out of place in the top tier.

He has made 17 league appearances already as Girona have surprised everyone by maintaining a mid-table position, and has looked mature beyond his years. Just 20, Maffeo looks set to be a controlled and effective right-back for the next decade.

Maffeo gained media attention earlier in the campaign when he admirably man-marked Lionel Messi as his side played Barcelona, keeping to his task well and ensuring the icon didn't get on the score sheet.

While Kyle Walker's certainly the best option at right-back for Manchester City, Danilo also arrived last summer as cover for the England international and while he has performed fine, there's nothing to suggest that Maffeo couldn't have provided the requisite cover Guardiola was looking for. Strong in the tackle, versatile, and resilient, Maffeo should be challenging Walker in the near-future.