June gave way to July this past week and, while the Loan Report still lacks fireworks, we’re moving towards the end of a long season that will have tested the resolve of everyone involved.
Headliners
The headlines this week were made by two players who aren’t actually playing. Charlie Brown’s first venture into professional football was ended prematurely when the Belgian season was cancelled due to the pandemic, but he impressed enough while playing for Union SG that he’ll return there for the duration of the 2020-21 campaign.
https://twitter.com/UnionStGilloise/status/1278674786617614337
As Brazil continues to struggle under the strain of the pandemic, some state championships have resumed, but the Mineiro state championship has not, and nor has Serie A. That means Nathan and Atlético-MG are still on pause but, when football resumes, it will do so with him as a permanent member of the squad. Chelsea came to an agreement to sell the Brazilian for €3m this week, bringing an end to his five-year affiliation with the Blues, one that saw him loaned to Vitesse (twice), Amiens and Belenenses before finding his way back home.
https://twitter.com/Atletico/status/1278401476306653184
England
Premier League
Danny Drinkwater played no part for Aston Villa away to Liverpool.
Championship
Swansea’s late playoff push continued at pace this week as they drew 1-1 at Millwall before beating Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 on Sunday to move within four points of Welsh rivals Cardiff City in sixth place. Conor Gallagher started both matches usual, but Marc Guehi made a long-awaited return to the team in the second of those two fixtures, and he did so with a Man of the Match performance. Pressed into action due to season-ending injuries to Ben Wilmot and Joe Rodon, he was outstanding from first to last, and offered a timely reminder of his pedigree after a shaky start to his time as a Swan earlier this year.
Elsewhere, Trevoh Chalobah got the better of Jake Clarke-Salter as Huddersfield beat Birmingham in midweek, albeit as a late substitute, before he was pressed into action as a right-back from the start as the Terriers drew 0-0 with Preston on Saturday. It was a positive performance nonetheless for him to celebrate his 21st birthday with.
Clarke-Salter and Birmingham, meanwhile, then went down 1-0 to Fulham as their season looks to be drawing to a disappointing ending.
Matt Miazga’s act of impetuousness last week cost him a three-match ban, but Reading did well enough without him on Saturday as they were rampant in beating Izzy Brown’s Luton Town 5-0. Brown had been rested for Luton’s midweek draw at Leeds, but their outing against the Royals was one to forget for all involved, and he was substituted at half time.
Wigan made some well-publicised headlines this week for events both on and off the pitch, but Dujon Sterling is still out at the DW Stadium.
Italy
Victor Moses played 67 minutes of Inter’s 6-0 thrashing of Brescia in midweek, weighing in with two more assists after his match-winning contribution at Parma last Sunday, but a thigh injury ruled him out of Sunday’s clash with Bologna.
Davide Zappacosta continued his comeback with 25 minutes in Roma’s defeat to Udinese on Thursday, then 90 more at Napoli in another loss.
Spain
Kenedy’s loan with Getafe was not extended beyond June 30th and his involvement with the club has now finished.
Baba Rahman is said to be fit again after undergoing more physiotherapy in Serbia, but he’s not yet back in Mallorca’s plans with four games left. They are six points adrift of safety and look set for a return to the second tier.
He's actually not. He's ok, after a lengthy physio session in Serbia.
— Gary Al-Smith (@garyalsmith) June 30, 2020
Portugal
Lucas Piazon missed both of Rio Ave’s matches this week due to a minor knock.
Statistics
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