5 of the best loan deals in Premier League history

Dugarry's flair helped Birmingham avoid relegation
Dugarry's flair helped Birmingham avoid relegation

#3 Romelu Lukaku to West Brom from Chelsea (2012)

Lukaku was on song for the Baggies
Lukaku was on song for the Baggies

The 2012/13 Premier League season is most notable for it being Sir Alex Ferguson's final season as Manchester United manager.

However, one of the very good pieces of business that season was the move of the-then teenager, Romelu Lukaku to the Hawthorns. The Belgian international had joined the Blues a season before from Anderlecht for £17m. However, he had found game time difficult to come by under managers Andres Vilas-Boas and Roberto Di Matteo.

Steve Clarke had taken over as manager following Roy Hodgson's departure to become England manager. The Irishman saw in Lukaku, the perfect short-term fix to the goalscoring problem. The young (and headstrong) Belgian had been unhappy sitting on the bench at Stamford Bridge.

He grabbed the chance with both hands plundering 17 goals in 33 matches as the Baggies easily avoided relegation finishing a club-record high in 8th place. The highlight came in the last match at home to Manchester United as Lukaku scored a hat-trick in a thrilling 5-5 draw.

This was Sir Alex's last ever match as United manager.

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