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It's often tempting for footballers to stay on the bench and pick up a wage, and all the more so at a big club. Some footballers retain their ambition, and thus, will choose the escape of a loan move to reignite their careers, while also keeping their top-club ambitions alive.
Here are the major players who must consider a loan move to resurrect their careers
#1 Manchester United - Anthony Martial
For the most expensive teenager in the world, Anthony Martial may look back at his relatively nascent career for the Red Devils with more than a tinge of regret. After being one of the few shining lights in Louis van Gaal's dismal spell in charge of Old Trafford, Martial has fallen by the wayside ever since Jose Mourinho has taken over.
The Frenchman is at a crucial stage of his development, where he needs to play day in, day out. However, United have spent £75 million to purchase Romelu Lukaku and any hope Martial has of starting in his favoured No.9 position has surely gone up in flames.
A loan move back to his former side AS Monaco seems out of the question, given that they have the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Radamel Falcao leading the line. However, the club where things began - Olympique Lyonnais seems perfect, especially as the Ligue 1 side have seen their talismanic striker Alexandre Lacazette leave for Arsenal. Memphis Depay resurrected his career with a six-month spell at Lyon, and Martial could work his way into Didier Deschamps and Jose Mourinho's plans with a season back home.
#2 Real Madrid - Mateo Kovacic
Mateo Kovacic has multiple UEFA Champions League and La Liga medals in his trophy room, but the Croatian will look at those baubles with scant fondness. The 23-year-old has had precious little to do with those victories, only serving as backup to Casemiro.
Real Madrid have added Marcos Llorente and Dani Ceballos to their first team midfield spots this season, and however great Zinedine Zidane is at rotating, Kovacic ought to be concerned that developing the Spanish youngsters might be the priority for Real Madrid, which would undoubtedly reduce his game time.
Kovacic was seen as a greater loss than Philippe Coutinho by Inter Milan fans when Madrid purchased the Croatian, which is a clue to what he can do on the pitch when made the main man. The talent is undoubtedly there - Kovacic just has to go to a club where the midfield is built around him. In a World Cup year, moving back to Serie A might just be the tonic to reignite his career.
#3 Arsenal - Emi Martinez
The Arsenal goalkeeping situation is a bit of a conundrum at the moment - Wojciech Szczesny has landed up in Turin as a backup to Gianluigi Buffon, and it seems as though David Ospina and Peter Cech will remain to fight it out for the #1 role.
Goalkeepers spend most of their developmental years on the bench anyway, and with the right coaching, it is conceivable for a rookie goalkeeper to be thrown into the deep end and be fine. However, Szczesny noted that he learnt more in 1 year of AS Roma than he had in his entire career at Arsenal, which points to an issue with Arsenal's goalkeeping staff.
Emi Martinez is highly, highly rated - Arsene Wenger had no problems starting him for Arsenal, while he has already been called up for the senior Argentinian team. A season where he's unlikely to get any first team action aside from the League Cup would be better spent playing for a newly promoted Premier League side or in the Championship, as he's being groomed to eventually take over from Petr Cech when the legendary goalkeeper calls it a day.
#4 Chelsea - Diego Costa
That Diego Costa is leaving Chelsea is certain.
What's not certain is when - it's no secret that Diego Costa is desperate to leave and go back to Atletico Madrid, having even been pictured in a Rojiblancos jersey on a live social media broadcast. However, Atletico have been hit with a transfer ban and can only register players in January.
In another year, Costa would have moved to Atletico in the summer, kicked back for 6 months and begin playing from January. However, Costa risks his place in the 2018 FIFA World Cup squad for Spain, with fierce competition expected from Alvaro Morata, ironically at Chelsea.
Costa can increase his chances by making a loan move to a Premier League team in London, such as West Ham or even Crystal Palace - the player is clearly too good for the clubs in question, but his international career is at stake.
#5 Liverpool - Divock Origi
The Belgian striker has his eyes set on a stay in Liverpool, but Divock Origi should really be considering a move away from Anfield. Jurgen Klopp afforded Origi a fair number of chances last season, but his purchase of Dominic Solanke ought to cause the Belgian some consternation.
The new recruit's performances in pre-season bode well, and Klopp is likely to back the former Chelsea youngster over Origi. Firmino and Sturridge will be the first-choice strikers for Liverpool, and thus Origi can expect another season of watching things from the bench.
Origi can score in the Premier League, and a move to Premier League minnows could be beneficial for him in the short term and Liverpool in the long term.
#6 FC Barcelona - Paco Alcacer
The idea of Barcelona sending their only backup striker out on loan seems farcical at best, but Paco Alcacer should really be evaluating a move away from the pressure of the Nou Camp. Gone is the player who seemed so nonchalant with his finishing for Valencia - instead we have a shell of a forward who looks distinctly uneasy whenever he takes to the pitch.
Barcelona ought to also be evaluating a better, more proven option as backup to Luis Suarez. Alcacer ought to take a leaf out of Alvaro Morata's book and move abroad, where a good season can put him in line for Spain's 2018 FIFA World Cup squad.
A move back to Valencia would not solve anything, as Alcacer has already proven himself there. A misfiring striker needs a change of scenery, and moving to tactically astute Serie A could be the perfect tonic his career needs.
