The loan system certainly has benefits to both sides, most notably it allows the parent club to give vital experience to a young player and the club receiving the loan players gets a high quality player at a relatively low cost. In the modern era loan fees are usually involved but they may only really need to pay a portion of the wages. However, the reality is it’s not really a 50-50 exchange and the real winners in all of this are the parent club.
The benefits for the parent club are massive if it is really considered. Players that are loaned out are usually those that are not currently involved in the first-team. This may be because they are young and not currently ready for first-team action or because they are older experienced players that are just not in favour. Now to take the example of the latter category for a Premier League club then they would not be able to use them if they are not currently within the 25 man squad. So the options are down to sell the player, allow the player to play reserve team football or loan them out. Sticking with the assumption we are dealing with Premier League clubs, if the player comes under the youth category then he is likely to be exempt from the 25 man squad (he can still play in the first-team despite not being in squad, provided he is 21 or under). However, if we assume he is not ready then he simply will not get a look in. But let’s also assume he is highly rated, so they won’t want to sell. The options are left to reserve/youth football or to loan them out.
Now in general a loan spell is likely to be far more valuable than reserve/youth football and will give a far clearer indication to the actual ability of the player. It is also far better for the player to be playing with established first-team players than other young or fringe players.
Therefore we have established why the Premier League parent club would want to loan a player. Now, for a youth player the obvious benefit is to get some much needed first-team experience into the player. Which of course will be vital for the player’s development – but at this stage the parent club is taking none of the risk. Any mistakes that could be made will be at the club he is on loan to. Now, if we assume he goes onto be a big success and his value sky rockets then the parent club would be able to sell for millions. However, a lot of the reason behind that is the time he spent out on loan – so is it really fair that they get no reward from it? Sadly, probably yes – because they never owned the player.
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I bet it kills some players to feel they are not good enough.
the article needs a little humour though; too explanatory.
The sad thing. These youngsters are good enough! But lads like Pacheco are just not getting the opportunity! You can’t play 2-3 First team games and expect miracles from these youth! You need to get them out on loan to mid-table teams or Championship teams that can help in their development! I watch Reserve games week in and week out, and watching talented lads like Bruna, Pacheco and others rot in our system is horrible and such a time waster! I respect ManU and Arsenal for developing their young talent and actually seeing them in multiple games, not just when they’re desperate with injuries! I hope Pacheco goes on to be a start, because he could have done a whole lot better than what Cole brought this season!