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Southampton: Mid-season loan player update – January 7th

By Nikos Lemanis

YEOVIL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 21: Olufela Olomola of Yeovil Town reacts during the Sky Bet League Two match between Yeovil Town and Notts County at Huish Park on November 21, 2017 in Yeovil, England. (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)
YEOVIL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 21: Olufela Olomola of Yeovil Town reacts during the Sky Bet League Two match between Yeovil Town and Notts County at Huish Park on November 21, 2017 in Yeovil, England. (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images) /
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There are currently six players out on loan from Southampton. With the season just over half way through, it’s time to check out their progress so far.

It has been a few months since we last reviewed the form of Harry Lewis, Ryan Seager, Olufela Olomola, Harrison Reed, Jordy Clasie and Sam Gallagher. Since then Olomola has returned to Southampton (possibly temporarily) and Marcus Barnes has switched to Yeovil to replace him.

With their parent club currently enduring a tough time in the Premier League, are there any stars waiting in the wings who could come home and make a difference?

As before, we will start in Belgium, head to Scotland, then work our way down the English leagues to find out how our loanees are performing.

Jordy Clasie – Club Brugge

With 21 games of the season gone, Club Brugge are sitting pretty at the top of the Belgian League. 11 points clear of second place Charleroi, and with double the goal difference, they are basically the Manchester City of Belgium.

Unfortunately Jordy Clasie hasn’t made much of a contribution to the club’s recent success. The excellent form of midfielders Ruud Vormer and the excellently-named Marvelous Nakamba have limited Clasie to substitute and cup appearances.

A knee injury also sidelined him for the entirety of October, stalling any progress he was making towards the starting XI.

With only nine league matches and a maximum of three cup games remaining, Clasie may have to rely on squad injury or January transfers to secure regular playing time.

It’s a shame for the Dutch midfielder, as this loan move could have been a great opportunity to get his career back on track. Whether or not that career will be in the Premier League is arguable, but at 26 he has the talent and the years ahead of him to play at the top level elsewhere.

If he can make an impact from the bench, perhaps his time to shine will still come at Brugge. And hopefully he will end the season with a Belgian Cup final winning goal!