10 top players available on loan – including Joe Cole, Gabriel Obertan, Nicklas Bendtner, Ryan Bertrand and Robbie Keane
Newcastle are said to be interested in taking Manchester United winger Gabriel Obertan on loan, as the Frenchman ponders leaving Old Trafford in search of first-team football, having found himself behind Nani, Antonio Valencia and new signing Ashley Young in the pecking order. Loan players have proved very successful in the recent past, with the likes of Jack Wilshere, Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck showing their talent at Premier League level before they had the chance to do so at their clubs. It's not just young players that are available, however, as top clubs are also looking to offload more experienced players. Here are ten top players your club could take on loan…
ALEXANDER HLEB
Age: 30
Club: Barcelona
Interested clubs: Aston Villa
Ex-Arsenal midfielder Hleb spent last season on loan at Villa's rivals Birmingham City and it's his former manager there, Alex McLeish, who is said to be interested in bringing the Belarusian to Villa Park.
Shaun Wright-phillips
Age: 29
Current club: Manchester City
Interested clubs: Sunderland
Manchester City would prefer to sell the out-of-favour winger, but his high wages are a stumbling block which could lead to him being loaned out instead.
Joe Cole
Age: 29
Current club: Liverpool
Interested clubs: QPR, West Ham
Cole is trying his best to stake a claim in the Liverpool team, but the club are keen to get his £90,000-a-week salary – or at least a chunk of it – off the wage bill and a loan deal looks more likely than a transfer, unless the Reds agree to let him go for nothing.
Craig Bellamy
Age: 32
Current club: Manchester City
Interested clubs: Celtic, Sunderland, Cardiff
Cast aside by Man City, Bellamy spent last season on loan at Cardiff City. Like several Man City stars on good wages, the striker is struggling to find a club, but he remains a talent that plenty of Premier League clubs would be happy to call upon.
Robbie Keane
Age: 31
Current club: Tottenham
Interested clubs: QPR, Wolves, Celtic and West Brom
Keane – who spent time at Celtic and West Ham on loan last season – appears to be out of Spurs manager Harry Redknapp's plans, despite Spurs arguably lacking in the striking department. The Irish international could be shipped out again if a sufficient bid to buy him is not received.
Ryan Bertrand
Age: 22
Club: Chelsea
Interested clubs: QPR, Rangers
The promising young Chelsea left back struggles to make the team with Ashley Cole at Stamford Bridge and has spent time on loan at Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Oldham, Norwich and Reading. Chelsea want the defender to continue playing first team football, but are unlikely to loan him to a Premier League rival.
Nicklas Bendtner
Age: 23
Club: Arsenal
Interested clubs: Everton
Arsenal appear to be struggling to shift their Danish striker after he made it clear he wanted a move away from the Emirates. Everton have since expressed their interest in taking him on loan as they are lacking firepower up-front, though it would be a last resort for Arsenal to loan a player they are keen to sell-on, especially to a potential rival.
Federico Macheda
Age: 19
Club: Manchester United
Interested clubs: Newcastle United
The 6ft Italian was relegated with Sampdoria during a loan spell in Serie A last season and remains behind Danny Welbeck in United's youthful striker pecking order, heading into this campaign. Newcastle are desperately searching for a new striker, with a loan deal likely to suit seemingly tight-fisted Toon owner Mike Ashley, as well as Man United, who are reluctant to sell the youngster.
Nedum Onuoha
Age: 24
Club: Manchester City
Interested clubs: QPR
Neil Warnock hopes to persuade Man City to part with the former England U21 defender for another season after missing out on Tottenham's Kyle Naughton, who went on loan to Norwich. Onouha spent last year on loan at Sunderland, scoring a mesmerising solo goal in the Black Cat's stunning 3-0 league romp against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
David Ngog
Age: 22
Interested clubs: Bolton and West Ham
David 'Wash' Ngog will find first team opportunities limited behind Andy Carroll, Luis Suarez and Dirk Kuyt at Anfield, so may choose to look elsewhere to bolster his flailing reputation. Owen Coyle has expressed an interest in taking the Frenchman to Bolton, but may opt for Cameron Jerome instead, while Sam Allardyce is hoping to persuade him to drop down to the Championship.