In the final Loan Report of the season we have two goals from a pair of the less-heralded loanees, and one of them in particular proved extremely decisive at the very end of the campaign.
Headliners
Papy Djilobodji has been something between a figure of derision and an encapsulation of everything wrong with Chelsea’s transfer policy since joining last summer but he has played pretty well for Werder Bremen in his four months on loan, a red card and a three-match suspension aside. On Saturday afternoon in a must-win match at home to Eintracht Frankfurt, he bundled the ball over the line with just a minute remaining in the last round of Bundesliga action to secure a 1-0 win and send Frankfurt down at Bremen’s expense.
It was his second goal of the season, as was Christian Atsu’s effort for Málaga on Sunday as they finished up their La Liga season with a 4-1 win and a top-half finish. The Ghanaian is one of a host of Chelsea youngsters who go into the summer with an unpredictable future ahead of them but talk of a permanent stay on the Costa del Sol has picked up of late and it will have done his cause no harm by weighing in with a late reminder of what he can offer.
England
Nathan Aké returned to the Watford team for their closing fixture at home to Sunderland, playing ninety minutes in what will probably be his last appearance in a Hornets shirt. Victor Moses was an unused substitute in West Ham’s last ever match at Upton Park before getting four minutes at Stoke on the last day, whilst Patrick Bamford was omitted from the matchday squad for each of relegated Norwich’s final two fixtures before returning to the Championship.
Jordan Houghton wasn’t involved in either leg of Plymouth’s playoff Semi Final against Portsmouth.
Germany
If Andreas Christensen returns to Borussia Mönchengladbach next season as is increasingly likely, he will do so with another Champions League qualification tie to look forward to. His final ninety minutes of the season came away to Darmstadt and finished with another clean sheet, three points and fourth place secured; the first time any German top-flight side had achieved that feat after losing their first five matches.
Spain
Charly Musonda was a half time substitute for Betis against Getafe but 45 minutes was enough for him to make an impact. His solo run won a penalty to help his loan club to a 2-1 win and now attention will turn to whether he remains there next season, as the terms of his deal allow, under new manager Gus Poyet.
France
After a fairly productive campaign for two Blues youngsters across the channel, the end of the Ligue 1 season was a fairly quiet affair with both Jeremie Boga and Mario Pašalić missing out due to injury.
Italy
Juan Cuadrado and Nathaniel Chalobah watched on as unused substitutes in comprehensive last day wins for Juventus and Napoli respectively, whilst Stipe Perica did the same at the end of a disappointing season for Udinese.
Turkey
Back fit again, Kenneth Omeruo was the unfortunate scorer of an own goal for Kasimpasa against Kayserispor earlier in the week but retained his place for Sunday’s home match against Mersin and had a much better time of it in a 7-0 win.
Marko Marin missed Trabzonspor’s 7-0 shellacking away to Antalyaspor and will probably be relieved to have done so.
Norway
Alex Davey’s injury problems are still keeping him out of the team, meaning he missed Stabaek’s 1-0 win over Viking this past midweek, and he’s unlikely to be involved away to Brann on Monday.
Sweden
Jamal Blackman kept up his ever-present run as Ostersunds’ goalkeeper against IFK Göteborg on Sunday and added his third clean sheet of the season in a 2-0 win.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Matej Delač started his final game of his second loan spell at FK Sarajevo in a local derby against FK Olimpic but he was unable to sign off with a win, instead going down 3-1.
Brazil
Wallace is still injured and won’t play against Corinthians later tonight.