The lucrative TV deal has caused an influx of revenue into the Premier League. The league is increasing in competitiveness with each passing year and the sudden increase in money has seen teams battling it out for signings, with smaller clubs buying big name players with huge wages as well.
This increased squad depth means several players have not got the playing time they deserve and we shall take a look at some of them.
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#1 Memphis Depay (Manchester United)
The mercurial winger was signed under Louis van Gaal for a fee of £25m from PSV Eindhoven. Depay made 45 appearances for United in all competitions last season but has failed to make a single start in the Premier League since Jose Mourinho took over as manager.
A change of scenery will do the Dutchman wonders, who was considered one of the best attacking prospects in the world before joining United, in 2015. Everton have been heavily linked with him as manager Ronald Koeman recently confirmed he wanted to sign Depay, after Yannick Bolasie was ruled out for a year with an ACL injury.
Reports in Sky Sports said that Everton want the winger on loan, whereas United want to sell him permanently. Ligue 1 leaders, OGC Nice have also been linked with Depay, but his wages should be too much of an imposition for the French club.
It was also reported by the Daily Mail that Depay turned down a loan move to Turkish giants Fenerbahce, with him preferring to stay in England.
#2 Michy Batshuayi (Chelsea)
The £33m summer signing from Marseille has played only 84 minutes of football in the Premier League this season. With talisman Diego Costa firing on all cylinders, and manager Antonio Conte opting to field Eden Hazard as a false nine when Costa is unavailable, the Belgian striker has failed to get much playing time and he is one player who really needs a loan move to get his career up and running.
The Italian manager earlier revealed that the Belgian international would not be allowed to go on loan, although recent reports have stated that Chelsea are looking to sign Swansea striker Fernando Llorente, as an understudy to Diego Costa. This would increase the chance for a potential loan move, with Batshuayi attracting a lot of suitors, most prominent of them being Premier League club West Ham United.
Sky Sports’ Guillem Balague has said the striker could move to the Hammers, with Michail Antonio moving to Stamford Bridge. Meanwhile, Sky Italy’s Gianluca Di Marzio reports that a swap loan deal between Chelsea and Swansea for Llorente and Batshuayi is also being discussed. Either way, a departure from Chelsea seems very likely.
#3 Gerard Deulofeu (Everton)
AC Milan have made a formal request to sign Gerard Deulofeu on loan as per Sky Sports and various other reports in Italy. The Spaniard has made only 13 appearances for Everton under new boss Ronald Koeman in the Premier League, with just 4 of them being starts, and a record of 0 goals and assists.
Despite having an impressive pre-season, the 22-year-old has largely warmed the bench, with Koeman preferring to start Bolasie or Mirallas.
Everton have also signed talented winger Ademola Lookman from Charlton, further casting doubt over the former Barcelona player’s future at the club. He was last named in the starting XI for the club back in early December, and the former La Masia youth product needs regular playing time to realise his potential.
AS Roma have also been linked with the winger in recent times.
#4 Mathieu Debuchy (Arsenal)
The former Newcastle right-back has apparently not spoken to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenge since last January, as Wenger blocked a loan move to Manchester Utd last season. He has featured a mere 16 minutes in the Premier League this season and is currently out with a minor thigh injury.
Debuchy told French magazine L’Equipe, “I want a way out. I want to take on a new challenge, to get back into it, to simply do my job properly. At a given time, you miss the excitement, the adrenaline.”
He has struggled to displace current first choice, Hector Bellerin since the Spanish defender made his debut for the London-based club. Debuchy has been rumoured to go on loan to French giants Olympic Marseille this window, which would hand him a new avenue to also get into the French national team again.
He also spoke about a move to OM, saying “I told my agents to get back to me only if there was something concrete. But Marseille is Marseille. Even if the results have been a bit difficult, it’s still one of the biggest clubs in Ligue 1.”
#5 Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea)
The highly rated Englishman has made only 4 appearances under manager Antonio Conte this season, a far cry from the 17 games he featured in last season.
Recent reports state that the 20-year-old would be allowed to leave Stamford Bridge to go on loan to another Premier League club, although Conte revealed after their FA Cup win against Peterborough that he did not want to let Cheek go on loan this month.
Conte said: "Ruben is an important player for Chelsea. He must know this. We trust a lot on him. For this reason, it’s important to work a lot and to take satisfaction with our team.”
Stoke City and West Ham will still fight it out for his signature as per local outlet, London Evening Standard. EFL Championship leaders Brighton, are also linked with the midfielder this window. A loan move would give Loftus-Cheek a chance to play regular football, which should be a huge boost for the gifted midfielder.
