Emergency loan window: the Premier League prospects ready for League One and League Two

The emergency loan window opens on Tuesday, giving Football League clubs an ideal opportunity to bring in players for a temporary spell.
Harry Wilson.Harry Wilson.
Harry Wilson.

Whether pushing for promotion or fighting against relegation, the likes of Barnsley, Bradford City, Doncaster Rovers, Sheffield United and York City are almost certain to make moves in January.

Here is our guide to the prospects that could be ideal for a move to League One or League Two:

Harry Wilson, Liverpool, winger

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Harry Wilson has been in the football spotlight ever since he made his international debut for Wales aged just 16 years and 207 days, beating the record of a certain Gareth Bale. The 18-year-old has been compared to the Real Madrid winger on several occasions, and his inclusion in the Liverpool squad that toured Thailand, Australia and Malaysia last summer stirred hope among Reds fans for a bright future at Anfield. His ability on the ball and the quality of the goals already in his repetoire make young Wilson an exciting prospect for the future of English football, but a loan deal is required to give him some solid first-team action as he develops as a player. He is no stranger to League One, having spent four months on loan at Crewe Alexandra, and another spell in the lower tiers should build up the strength and confidence he needs to impress in the Premier League.

Callum Gribbin, Manchester United, midfielder

The 16-year-old has made quite an impression at Old Trafford, and despite a staggering offer of £11,000 a week from Manchester City, Gribbin signed a new four-year deal in the summer to commit his future to the Red Devils. United think he could be their next great youth product, following in the footsteps of the Class of ‘92, and are keen to keep him under their wing as they develop him into the finished article. But at such a vulnerable age, it’s important Gribbin gets frequent first-team action to improve his discipline and reach his full potential before he is thrown into the deep end in Louis Van Gaal’s starting VI. This isn’t going to happen at Old Trafford for another year or so, so a loan to a League One or Two club could be a good move for United as they look to the future.

Tammy Abraham, Chelsea, striker

If you haven’t heard Abraham’s name before now, you’re in for a treat. The 18-year-old scored 41 goals across all competitions and age groups last season, including 32 goals in 26 matches for the under-18s side that won the FA Youth Cup. This season, he made the move up to the under-21s, and is continuing to impress after finding the back of the net 14 times in 17 games. But with the likes of Diego Costa, Oscar and Eden Hazard leading the line in the first team, Abraham isn’t likely to make an appearance at Stamford Bridge any time soon, so if he wants regular football, he must look elsewhere. Any promotion chasing team, or indeed any team desperately in need of goals to avoid relegation, would be a fool not to look at Chelsea’s prolific young star, a promising kid with a sparkling future ahead of him.

Nathan Oduwa, Tottenham Hotspur, winger

During his loan spell at Rangers, 19-year-old Nathan Oduwa made his mark on Scottish football when he pulled off a rainbow flick over the head of Alloa Athletic’s Colin Hamilton. The youngster impressed during his short spell in Glasgow, earning rave reviews for his frightening pace and ability on the ball. But after returning to North London in January, Oduwa has had to settle for a place in the under-21s team, something he is surely disappointed with after experiencing first-team action at the Ibrox. He’s familiar with playing in League Two, having turned out 11 times for Luton Town, so a temporary move away from Spurs to a club who could put him to good use may be on the cards in the near future.

Mason Holgate, Everton, defender

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Dubbed the next John Stones, Doncaster-born Mason Holgate moved to Goodison Park from Barnsley in 2015 for a cool £2million, but is yet to make an appearance for Roberto Martinez’s side. During his time with the Tykes, the 18-year-old featured 22 times, but was criticised by Barnsley boss Lee Johnson for jumping the gun too quickly in his move to the Premier League. And if his lack of first-team action with the Toffees is anything to go by, Holgate may well be regretting his decision, and so could be open to a return to League One or lower in exchange for all-important game time. Whether Barnsley would be interested in taking him back remains to be seen, but a loan deal is certainly the only option for the youngster if he wants to become the quality player he deserves to be.