Top 5 on loan stars of the 2019-20 season

Loan deals are a part and parcel of the modern era of football. The transfer market has seen many of them, now more than ever. The approach of the loan System is familiar to all football fans, with short-term player loans being a part of the game for many years. The system allows players to move between clubs for one or two seasons, without the need for paying massive transfer fees and high salaries.

Generally, it is the young prospects who are loaned to a relatively smaller club where they can gain first-team experience. But in recent seasons we have seen many stars leave their club on loan due to various reasons, with Philippe Coutinho, Alexis Sanchez and Mauro Icardi being the latest stars to be part of loan deals.

When it comes to the high-profile players, the reasons narrow down to performances or personal reasons. Having invested so much in them, the parent club feels loaning out the player is a good way to recover something. Loan-to-buy deals are becoming popular in the European transfer market and statistics show that more and more senior players are moving to different clubs in loan deals.

This summer has witnessed several top-level players and also the young exciting players become available for loan. In this article, we present five players currently on loan who have made full use of the opportunity to regular game time under their belts.

Honourable mentions -

Nicolò Barella (Inter Milan - On loan from Cagliari)

Sergio Reguilón (Sevilla – On loan from Real Madrid)

Radja Nainggolan (Cagliari – On loan from Inter Milan)

Islam Slimani (AS Monaco – On loan From Leicester City)

Dean Henderson (Sheffield United – On loan from Manchester United)

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#5 Achraf Hakimi (Borussia Dortmund – On loan from Real Madrid)

Hakimi after scoring the winner vs Inter Milan (UEFA Champions League, Group F)

Achraf Hakimi joined Borussia Dortmund on loan for 2 seasons from Real Madrid. The 21-year-old made a good impression in his first season at Dortmund until a fractured metatarsal ended his season prematurely in March. The Morocco international has started 2019-20 season strongly and Lucien Favre has played him at both right and left-back and also as a winger.

The young defender has shown his offensive prowess in a team already oozing with attacking talent. Hakimi has scored 9 goals and registered 10 assists in his 47 games for the German club and has also scored 4 out of Dortmund's 5 Champions League goals this season.

Labelled as a "Weapon" by Marco Reus, Hakimi will play a huge role if Favre's team are to have any success this season and he will also be an important part for Los Blancos for years to come.

#4 Martin Ødegaard (Real Sociedad – On loan from Real Madrid)

Martin Ødegaard in action for Real Sociedad

Another Real Madrid loanee who has been phenomenal this season is Martin Odegaard, who has burst on to the scene at Real Sociedad since sealing a loan move this summer. The story has been shaky for one of Europe's most exciting young playmaker and the media, not so supportive. The Norwegian was already a national star at 15 and a move to one of the biggest clubs in the world made sure everyone knew who he was.

His return to LaLiga after a mind-blowing loan at Vitesse has been nothing short of sensational. A Sociedad team built in such a way that Ødegaard has been able to display his quality and style every game.

With 2 goals and 3 assists under his belt, Ødegaard has made a lively start for La Real. The young midfielder averages 2.8 key passes per game which is the same as a certain Lionel Messi and Toni Kroos. Such numbers and performances week in week out made Ødegaard Sociedad fans' player of the month in August and the league's best player in September.

For the time being Ødegaard is winning the loan race among all the young prospects out on loan. A budding star being able to showcase his talent in one of Europe's top league makes you love the loan system. It will be almost impossible for Zidane to ignore the Norwegian if he keeps his early-season form and continues to perform in such a manner.

#3 Chris Smalling (AS Roma – On loan from Manchester United)

Chris Smalling reborn in Rome

It takes courage to make bold life decisions and that is what Christopher Lloyd Smalling did. A gamble which could have gone either way went in favour of Smalling who is now reborn in the Italian capital. With the likes of Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelöf, Eric Bailly and the promising youngster Axel Tuanzebe, it was certain that Smalling's days at United were almost over.

This seemed like an opportunity and Paulo Fonseca made the best of it by pushing the deal on deadline day. The gaffer wanted a leader and a presence in that Roma backline and that is what he got in the England International. A £2.5million loan deal looks like a bargain now and Roma are desperate to make that deal permanent.

Smalling has been a rock in that Roma back four. He has won 72% of the aerial duels and has not been dribbled past this season when attempting a tackle. The 30-year-old also has 2 goals and 2 assists to his name this season. It can be said without a doubt that Smalling is filling the void left by Kostas Manolas. In Gianluca Mancini, Smalling has a strong and similar partner in crime and both are bringing out the best in each other.

Smalling has improved his overall game massively, be it defensive prowess or ability on the ball or even adapting to the high line system of Roma. With performances and stats like those, Smalling is one of the most in-form defenders in Europe right now.

#2 Stefano Sensi (Inter Milan – On loan from Sassuolo)

Inter's new Midfield Maestro

Stefano Sensi is technically only on loan this season though Inter have an option to make the move permanent for €25m at the end of the season. The midfielder has established himself as one of the signings of the summer following his arrival from Neroverdi.

Remarkable passing range, impressive work rate and good decision making in the final third makes Sensi a big asset for Inter Milan. As good as he is going forward, his defensive work-rate is under-appreciated.

The 24-year-old has adapted well to Conte's tactics and has been significant for the side. With 3 goals and 4 assists to his name, he has formed a good partnership with fellow midfielders Nicolò Barella and Marcelo Brozovic and Inter look secured in the final third, with the lethal duo of Lautaro Martinez and Romelu Lukaku up front.

Sensi suffered a tear in his abductor's muscle against Juventus at the start of October and missed action for over a month. He will be back in the first week of December and will be looking to make up for the lost time.

Stefano Sensi’s exceptional start to the season with Nerazzurri hasn’t been ignored by the big guns of Europe, as he is reportedly being monitored by Manchester City and Barcelona. A move to one of the big giants in the future is on the cards for the exciting Italian midfielder.

#1 Mauro Icardi (Paris Saint-Germain - On loan from Inter Milan)

A New Bad Boy at PSG

A move which was more about where rather than when...

Mauro Icardi's story with Nerazzurri has been nothing short of a soap-opera. With 124 goals for Inter Milan, the Argentine's ability was never a doubt. The drama and controversies which followed him was something the bigger clubs wanted to avoid.

The summer of 2019 finally gave that love affair an ending when new boss Antonio Conte made it clear that Icardi was not in his plans. Replaced by Belgium #9 Romelu Lukaku at Inter, it was almost certain that Icardi will leave the Italian side.

That is when a move to the French Capital happened out of nowhere. A team with the attacking talent of Neymar, Kylian Mbappé, Edinson Cavani and Ángel Di María were ready to bolster that forward line by signing the 26-year-old Argentine.

Icardi settled in Paris from the word go. With 10 goals in 12 games, he has made himself Thomas Tuchel's favourite and has snatched that #9 spot from PSG legend and all-time top scorer Edinson Cavani. Described as an 'Animal in the Box', Icardi has made a fast start to his new life and there seems to be nothing which can stop him at the moment.

PSG have an option to sign the clinical striker at the end of the season for £59million and the French side consider him as a long term option. Given his attacking quality and recent form, Icardi is going to be the key for Paris Saint-Germain if they are to finally win the Champions League.