As we approach the middle of the January transfer window, Arsenal have been busy dealing with the contract situations of several loanees out on loan to various clubs across the country.
Gillingham manager Steve Evans, talking to BBC Radio Kent yesterday, admitted that the Trae Coyle and Zech Medley would be returning to their parent club Arsenal “in the next 24 hours”.
Both Coyle and Medley had agreed to a season-long loan at Priestfield, however the pair have failed to break into the first eleven and have been sparsely used. Arsenal is unhappy with the limited amount of gametime youngsters are getting and both Coyle and Medley are expected to be recalled back to London Colney.
Coyle has featured in just three starts in the League One, and five starts in the cups, and has seen limited time despite scoring four goals across all competitions. Zech Medley has racked up 17 starts for Gillingham this season, but seems to have lost the manager’s confidence after picking up an injury and has not appeared in the last few matches.
Deyan Iliev is also expected to return back to Arsenal from a loan at Shrewsbury. The 26-year-old is currently third choice keeper at the club and has made just three starts this season marred by injury problems for him.
Meanwhile defender Jordi Osei-Tutu, currently at loan with Cardiff City made six league appearances for the Bluebirds before picking up an injury in October. The right-back is expected to return back to the starting eleven in the game against Norwich on Saturday and will remain with the club until the end of the season.
Harry Clarke has made 16 appearances this season at Oldham Athletic and the defender has developed immensely in a short period at the club. It is expected that Arsenal will extend Clarke’s current loan set to expire at January till the end of the season.
Manager of Oldham Harry Kewell recently revealed he had been quite impressed by the 19-year-old while talking to Oldham Times, “Harry Clarke’s done excellent since he’s been here. When we were first approached we were thinking ‘a young player coming in there, will he be able to handle it’ but what a fantastic character he is first and foremost.”
“He’s a pleasure to train, always willing to learn, always first out on the pitch, always last in, full of energy.”
Similarly, 21-year-old Daniel Ballard has settled in well at Blackpool and has produced impressively when called upon. His initial six month loan at the club is expected to be extended till the end of the current season. The centre-back has picked up five international caps for Northern Ireland and looks to be a solid defender for the future.
The Arsenal board are looking to terminate and extend loans quickly so as to facilitate further loans for the youngsters before the end of the January transfer window.
