Stoke City loan rules explained as Mark Robins looks for late business
The Championship transfer window is being dominated by loan deals this month as clubs try to navigate the EFL's profit and sustainability rules. It is a vicious cycle in some respects because it means that so much business is short-term.
There had been 19 loan signings up and down the division with a week to go in the window and 45 outgoing loan deals. Loans aren't free, however, and Hull City are believed to be paying about £1 million to borrow Louie Barry from Aston Villa for the last few months of the season.
There is competition for the best available players even on a temporary basis and EFL rules only allow five loans to be named in a match day squad. Stoke's deals over the last week or so - Tom Cannon returning to Leicester while Josh Wilson-Esbrand and Ali Al-Hamadi have joined - means they are now at that five-man limit. But they have had more than that in the past, with seven signed under Alex Neil in 2022/23.
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Who do Stoke currently have on loan?
Lewis Koumas (Liverpool), Andrew Moran (Brighton and Hove Albion), Ashley Phillips (Tottenham Hotspur), Josh Wilson-Esbrand (Manchester City), Ali Al-Hamadi (Ipswich Town)
How have they been getting on?
Koumas, aged 19, has already racked up 1,898 minutes, which is no mean feat for a first loan. He would perhaps benefit from not being relied upon so much and it's interesting that Robins thinks his best position will be down the middle. He has scored three and set up another one so far in the league.
Moran, aged 21, has made 20 starts too, scoring three and setting up one, the same as Koumas. He has been moved around the pitch, playing as a deeper midfielder and on the right but he looks more at home in a central attacking area.
Phillips, aged 19, had to wait for his chance in central defence but he has been one of the first names on the teamsheet since October and has now made 18 starts. He has helped keep four clean sheets in the last six matches and has been one of the more threatening players at attacking set-pieces. He's got one goal so far, a deft finish in the cup at Southampton.
WIlson-Esbrand, aged 22, had worked with Robins before at Coventry and is a left-back who can also play at wing-back or as left midfield. He made his debut last week at Portsmouth although Enda Stevens was back in against Oxford at the weekend.
Striker Al-Hamadi, aged 22, watched the Oxford game from the stands after signing the previous evening. He is on standby to make his debut this weekend at Hull.
How many loan players can a Championship side have?
Clubs are allowed to have eight players on loan, but can only pick a maximum of five loanees in their match day squad.
They can only sign a maximum of four players from a specific club, of which only two can be over the age of 23.
What has Mark Robins said about the loan market?
Robins said earlier this month: "You always run the risk when you’ve got players on loan that when they do well it will ignite interest in them from elsewhere and Leicester are well within their rights (to recall Tom Cannon) – as we were to recall Nathan Lowe, and this was part of the reason as well because it looked to all intents and purposes like it might happen and it has.
“Tom has been brilliant in the short time I’ve known him. He’s a top, top young man and he’s done great for this football club. I wish him all the best and hopefully will see him in the not too distant future again.”
He added: “It’s circumstances. Whatever your circumstances are you have to cut your cloth accordingly and that’s been the situation here this season. That’s something we’ve got to pick our way through, the financial situation, and it is what it is. We’ve got the players we have and you’re at the mercy of parent clubs about what they want to do."
Does that mean that Stoke are only looking at the loan market?
Stoke don't have much wriggle room this month because of Financial Fair Play rules but they are still trying to bring players in. There have been links with signing Koumas's Liverpool teammate Jayden Danns and reports of a bid in for Bristol City winger Mark Sykes.
Robins said at the weekend: “We are where we are and there is plenty of work going on, a lot of irons in the fire I would imagine and people who will fit the bill and hopefully we might be able to get one of those. Whether it's one or two remains to be seen but we still need some help. They are young players and they need that support because it's very clear because they need a breather at times. It's almost cruel sometimes because you keep playing them and you can see they're flagging a bit."
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