Is there any point to season-long loans?
The money Ipswich Town spent on West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Alex Palmer led the Baggies to recall Josh Griffiths from his loan at Bristol Rovers and, in turn, forced the League One club to bring Jed Ward back prematurely from his temporary stay at Forest Green Rovers.
Three clubs lost their starting goalkeeper, all among their standout individuals of the season, with little room to manoeuvre and pivot to something else, because of one transfer at the top of the food chain.
It maybe should not come as a surprise but does highlight a pretty significant fault line when working in such a market, albeit one where the English Football League and non-league clubs simply have no choice given the financial pressures and the comparative low cost to high return of loaning a player in – even with the sporting risks.
The chain reaction of the Palmer deal was right at the end of the window – in the weeks leading up to that there were other such examples of regrettable recalls which could prove to have undeniable impact on those at the wrong end of it.
Not falling in love with a loan player has never been easier.
Leicester City’s decision to recall Tom Cannon from Stoke City was different in that there was never any indication he was going start for the Foxes in the Premier League and his return to the King Power Stadium proved a brief one as he was sold to Sheffield United to aid PSR concerns.
Stoke, now a striker short and having paid a significant fee and wage contribution to loan Cannon in the first place, turned to one of their own to fill the void in Nathan Lowe, who had found the target 15 times in 22 games for League Two leaders Walsall, bringing the 19-year-old back early from Bescot Stadium.
In League One, Stockport County have been undoubted beneficiaries of Louie Barry’s talents, scoring 25 goals in 47 appearances over two spells on hire from Aston Villa.
