Friday 27 March 2015 11:46, UK
With the Football League emergency loan window closing on Thursday, we pick the 10 Premier League players likely to make an impact in the Championship between now and the end of the season.
Semi Ajayi (Arsenal to Cardiff)
Likened to Arsenal legend Sol Campbell when he first joined the club from Charlton following a successful trial period, Ajayi has not broken into Arsene Wenger’s starting lineup yet.
The Nigeria U21 international defender has been named in the Gunners’ matchday squad on a number of occasions this season and is described on the club’s official website as: “Calm and composed in possession and adept in the aerial duels.”
Nathan Ake (Chelsea to Reading)
Ake signed a new five-year deal at Stamford Bridge last year, but has only feature four times for Jose Mourinho’s side despite being able to play in either defence or midfield and captaining Holland all the way up to U21 level.
The Dutchman is highly thought of by the Blues and has been a regular fixture in their first-team squad, with the 19-year-old an unused substitute in Chelsea’s Capital One Cup final win over Tottenham.
Ake will now get competitive football under former Chelsea coach Steve Clarke at Reading, although he will not be available for the Royals’ FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal after playing for Chelsea in their third-round victory over Watford.
Emiliano Martinez (Arsenal to Rotherham)
The Argentinian goalkeeper has already shown his potential this season after making four appearances for Arsenal’s first team because of injuries to both Wojciech Szczesny and David Ospina.
Martinez, 22, kept clean sheets against Borussia Dortmund, West Brom and Southampton, making six appearances for Arsene Wenger’s side.
However, the shot stopper’s opportunities have been limited since the returns of Szczesny and Ospina and moves to Rotherham to help them maintain their Championship status.
Reece James (Manchester United to Huddersfield)
The 21-year-old has featured just once for Manchester United this season and it was a performance to forget as the Premier League club were beaten 4-0 by League One MK Dons in the Capital One Cup.
Since then James, who scored twice for United in pre-season against LA Galaxy, has enjoyed a loan spell at Championship club Rotherham and will look to continue his development at the same level but this time under former England left-back Chris Powell at Huddersfield.
Lloyd Isgrove (Southampton to Sheffield Wednesday)
Isgrove is well thought of at Southampton, with head of football development Les Reed recently revealing the youngster will be a key part of Ronald Koeman’s squad next season.
The winger, 22, recently signed a new two-year deal at St Mary’s but will now get the opportunity to impress at Championship level after joining Sheffield Wednesday.
And Isgrove has already featured for the Owls, helping Stuart Gray’s side to a 3-2 away win at Rotherham.
Jerome Sinclair (Liverpool to Wigan)
Sinclair came to prominence after producing a match-winning performance for Liverpool’s U21 side against Chelsea earlier this month. The striker scored and won a penalty, with former Reds defender and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher effusive in his praise of the youngster’s performance.
The 18-year-old already holds the title of Liverpool’s youngest player after featuring in a League Cup encounter against West Brom back in 2012 at the age of 16 years and six days.
And while that is Sinclair’s only first-team appearance to date, he is highly regarded at Anfield, with the ex-England U16 and U17 international the club’s next big academy hope.
Modou Barrow (Swansea to Nottingham Forest)
Swansea signed Barrow from Swedish second-tier club Ostersunds last summer for £1.5m and the Gambia–born striker has since featured nine times, scoring one goal for the club.
The 21-year-old was on the scoresheet during the Swans’ 6-2 FA Cup win over Tranmere in January and Nottingham Forest boss Dougie Freedman knows all about the player’s talent having been impressed with his performances during a trial at Bolton.
Liam Moore (Leicester to Brentford)
Moore made an excellent start to life in the Premier league with Leicester, making 14 appearances for Nigel Pearson’s side, with reports even linking Arsenal and Manchester United with a move for the England U21 international after a number of excellent performances.
However, with just two starts for the Foxes in 2015 - both in the FA Cup - the defender has joined play-off chasing Brentford until the end of the season.
And Moore, 22, has already featured three times for Mark Wharburton’s side since leaving the King Power stadium, helping the Championship club to victory over Huddersfield and a draw at Ipswich.
Zeki Fryers (Crystal Palace to Ipswich Town)
Fryers has been brought in by Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy in order to aid the club’s Premier League promotion push between now and the end of the season.
And having played for the likes of Manchester United, Standard Liege and Tottenham Hotspur, before joining Palace on a three-year deal in September, the defender has both the experience and ability to impress at the back at Portman Road in their final seven league games this campaign.
Chuba Akpom (Arsenal to Nottingham Forest)
Akpom moved to the City Ground until the end of the season in order to gain valuable first-team experience with the Championship side under Dougie Freedman’s management.
The striker, 19, has also featured for the England U16, U17, U19 and now U20 teams, while he made his Gunners debut in a Premier League match at Sunderland in the previous campaign, making eight more appearances from the bench thereafter.
To read a full list of all the Football League deadline-day emergency loan deals, click here or visit www.skysports.com/football
