Josh McEachran to Swansea, Jack Wilshere at Bolton, Andy Carroll at Preston and 10 brilliant young loan signings
Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that a deal to sign Chelsea's young midfielder Josh McEachran on loan has been confirmed. "We have made an agreement with Chelsea, but they have one or two injuries, so we are just waiting to hear when he will be allowed to come," said Rodgers.
The 18-year-old is struggling to get first team football at Stamford Bridge and a loan spell will give him the opportunity to gain vital Premier League experience, as he attempts to stake his place in new gaffer Andre Villas-Boas' plans for the future. Take note Josh, here are ten players who benefitted from a loan spell…
Jordan Henderson: COVENTRY
Initially signed on a one-month loan deal at the Ricoh Arena in January 2009, Henderson impressed enough for the Sky Blues to extend his contract until the end of the season. After his debut – a 2-1 defeat away to Derby – he played his part in a six-game unbeaten run, but a broken bone in his foot brought an end to his stay in the Midlands. The young midfielder returned to Sunderland and in November 2010 was called up to the senior England squad to face France in a friendly. Liverpool paid £20m in June 2011 to make him a Reds player, where has made regular first team appearances in Kenny Dalglish's side.
Jermain Defoe: Bournemouth
As an 18-year-old in late 2000 Defoe joined Bournemouth on loan, whose former manager Harry Redknapp was by then his boss at Upton Park. The striker managed an impressive return of 19 goals in 31 matches, with 10 coming in consecutive Division Two (now League One) matches. Since his spell at Dean Court, he has played 46 times for England and is now in his second spell at Spurs, following time spent at Portsmouth.
DAVID BECKHAM: Preston North End
In his autobiography Becks claims his time at Deepdale in 1995 helped him develop as a player, although he wasn't overly enthusiastic about going on loan at first. At Preston there wasn't anyone to run around after him like at Man United, forcing the 19-year-old to grow up fast. The young Beckham had to wash his own kit, but his hard work was rewarded with a debut goal scored directly from a corner against Doncaster Rovers. Before returning to Old Trafford to win six Premier League trophies, a Champions League winner's medal and the first of his 115 England caps, Becks managed to bag himself two goals in five games during his loan spell.
Jack Wilshere: BOLTON
The highly rated Arsenal midfielder joined Owen Coyle's side at the end of the 2010 transfer window and gained valuable first team experience that helped him emerge as the country's most promising midfielder, before injury interrupted his 2011/12 season. He made his Trotters debut in a 2-0 defeat to Man City and three games later scored his first and only goal of a 13-match stay, in a 2-1 win against West Ham. Since returning and starring for Arsenal, Wilshere's reputation has soared and he is expected to form a key part of future Arsenal and England teams.
Frank Lampard: Swansea
While on loan from West Ham at the Vetch Field during the 1995/96 season, Lampard played in nine Second Division games, scoring once. Following his time in Wales, Lampard went on to become a mainstay of the England side, racking up 86 caps, having moved to Chelsea for £11m in 2001, here he's won three Premier League crowns and, from his midfield position, scored 175 times in 495 matches. Quality!
John Terry: Nottingham Forest
The future England skipper played just six times for Forest in the latter half of the 1999/00 season, but during that spell the club conceded just three goals – we're not counting his first match against Charlton as he was brought on after Andy Hunt had put the Addicks ahead. His first team experience at the City Ground paid off as he was named Chelsea's Player of the Year the season after and since then has captained the side to three Premier League titles and three FA Cup victories, as well as winning another Player of the Year award in 2006.
Daniel Sturridge: BOLTON
It's unsurprising that Owen Coyle is keen to have the Chelsea striker back at the Reebok. His eight goals in 12 Premier League games, including four in a row starting with his debut against Wolves, helped the Trotters avoid a relegation scrap. He's yet to appear for the England senior team, but is beginning to establish himself as a regular at Stamford Bridge, threatening to squeeze Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres out of the starting line-up.
Andy Carroll: PRESTON
Another Preston loanee destined for success, Carroll joined the club aged 18 at the start of the 2007/08 season and returned to Newcastle in January of that campaign, but not before making seven Championship starts and scoring once. At Newcastle his form took off following their relegation, where his 19 goals propelled the Magpies back into the Premier League in the 2009/10 campaign. His 11 goals in the first half of last season were enough to convince Liverpool to spend a whopping £35m on him, though he has yet to show his full potential at Anfield.
Rio Ferdinand: BOURNEMOUTH
Another West Ham youngster Harry Redknapp farmed out to Bournemouth, where the 18-year-old Ferdinand was unbeaten in eight of the 10 games he played during the 1996/97 season. Leeds paid the Hammers £18m to take him to Elland Road three years later and Man United then paid Leeds £30m in 2002 to take him to Old Trafford, where he has remained ever since. The centre back has captained England and played 81 times for his country, the first coming as a 19-year-old in 1997.
Stewart Downing: SUNDERLAND
Between October and December 2003 the winger appeared seven times on loan for Middlesbrough's north east rivals Sunderland, who were in the Championship, where he scored three goals. After his time on Wearside, the 19-year-old Downing became a Boro regular, making his England Under-21 debut a year later and his senior bow against the Netherlands in 2005. Villa swooped for his signature in 2009, paying £12m, before Liverpool paid £20m to take the England international to Anfield in 2011.