Ipswich Town are once again looking to the loan market. Stuart Watson profiles some of the Premier League starlets they could turn to over the coming days.
Brandon Barker - Age: 19 - Club: Man City - Position: Winger
Has been at Man City since the age of eight, was named their best academy player in 2014 and signed a five-year deal last summer.
Highly-thought of at the Etihad Stadium, Barker was an unused substitute on several occasions in the opening months of this season and, in November, was loaned to Championship club Rotherham.
His debut ended in a 5-2 home defeat against Ipswich, but the teenager caught the eye with his impressive movement, technical ability and a cracking long-range consolation strike. Head-scratchingly, the youngster made just three more appearances for the Millers – all brief cameo displays – and was recalled in December.
The England Under-20 international’s stock rose earlier this month when he scored one and assisted two in an Under-21 win at Liverpool.
Reece Oxford - Age: 17 - Club: West Ham - Position: Midfield
Joined the Hammers at the age of 12 and consistently played above his age group in the academy. Featured on the first team bench at the age of 15.
Became West Ham’s youngest-ever player when he made his debut in a Europa League game in July 2015, then made national headlines the following month with a man-of-the-match display in a 2-0 win at Arsenal on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.
He’s made just one start and three substitute appearances since then though and now looks set for a loan spell in the Championship.
A temporary switch to Charlton had been agreed last month, but the move fell through after Addicks boss Jose Riga told his board he didn’t know enough about the player.
Sheyi Ojo - Age: 18 - Club: Liverpool - Position: Winger
A flying winger whose family have Nigerian roots, Ojo started out at MK Dons and, at the age of 14, had several big clubs all fighting for his signature. Liverpool reportedly ended up paying £2m for his signature.
Capped by England from Under-16 to Under-19 level, Ojo spent the back end of last season on loan at Wigan and the first half of this season on loan at Wolves.
He had been due to be at Molineux for the entire campaign but, after making seven starts and 12 substitute appearances, he was recalled in January and recently featured in FA Cup ties against Exeter and West Ham. With Jurgen Klopp’s side knocked out of the competition this week he could be loaned out again.
The same applies to Portuguese attacking midfielder Joao Teixeira, the 23-year-old who enjoyed an impressive loan spell at Brighton last season where he memorably bamboozled Ipswich all night and scored twice in a 3-2 win at The Amex Stadium.
Josh Onomah - Age: 18 - Club: Tottenham - Position: Midfielder
The Spurs academy product, another who has been capped by England at various youth levels, has been in and around the first team for 18 months now.
This season he’s made six substitute appearances in the Premier League, one start and two sub appearances in the FA Cup and one start and three sub appearances in the Europa League.
An exciting player who likes to run at defenders in the final third, Onomah signed a new long-term deal at White Hart Lane earlier this month.
Town have close links with Tottenham as academy director Bryan Klug used to work for the London club. Spurs are still in the three competitions though and Mauricio Pochettino may be reluctant to loan anyone out just yet.
Serge Gnabry - Age: 20 - Club: Arsenal - Position: Winger
Born in Stuttgart to an Ivorian father and German mother, Gnabry was a talented sprinter who chose football over athletics.
Arsenal paid Stuttgart £100,000 to sign him as a 16-year-old and he became the club’s third-youngest Premier League player in October 2012.
Earned a new five-year deal with some impressive displays but was then ruled out for most of last season through injury.
Was loaned to West Brom at the start of this campaign but was recalled by Arsene Wenger in January due to his lack of match action.
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