Six of the Best: Loanees impressing in Europe's top 5 leagues

Allan Saint-Maximin (Bastia from Monaco)

He may need to work on his end product, with modest returns of 3 goals and 2 assists, but 19-year old Saint-Maximin has shown great promise this season. Joining Bastia on loan from Monaco following an unfruitful spell with Hannover in the Bundesliga, the teenager has proven that Leonardo Jardim has talent at his disposal beyond a super-talented young group currently playing for the club.

He’s been a bright light for a Bastia side that find themselves encamped in Ligue 1’s relegation zone following an 8-game winless run, and they’ll rely on the youngster to provide the spark required to beat the drop. Saint-Maximin has the highest rating for the side (7.28), with only Eden Hazard having completed more dribbles in all of Europe’s top 5 leagues (112). Moreover, a total of 39 chances created from open play is enough to rank fourth in France’s top tier.

Mattia Caldara (Atalanta from Juventus)

He may have been an Atalanta player for the first half of the season, but Caldara is only at the club on loan now following a transfer to Juventus that will see the young centre-back head to the Old Lady in the summer. While Roberto Gagliardini was allowed to leave in the winter window for Inter, it’s little wonder why Gian Piero Gasperini’s high-flyers were keen to retain the defender’s services for the foreseeable future, despite unable to resist the offer from Serie A’s league leaders. An agreement is in place for the 22-year old to stay in Bergamo until the end of next season.

Already earmarked as a long term replacement for the likes of Barzagli and Chiellini in Turin, Caldara will have won over his new fans already after scoring a brace against title hopefuls Napoli at the weekend. It was the standout display of an excellent season for the youngster, taking his league tally to 5 goals from the back, while also averaging the third most interceptions per game of any player in Italy’s top-flight (3.1).

Frederic Guilbert (Caen from Bordeaux)

Back where he began having come through the youth ranks at Caen, Guilbert is excelling in a familiar setting having lost his place at right-back with Bordeaux due to the loan arrival of Youssouf Sabaly. Les Girondins will be safe in the knowledge that should they be unable to make that signing permanent, Guilbert has shown impressive progress this season. The 22-year old is the highest rated Caen player by a distance (7.44), taking the mantle from former star N’Golo Kante as chief ball winner, albeit from a different position.

Indeed, the young full-back, who can also play at the heart of the defence, has made the second most tackles per game in Ligue 1 this season since his move (4.4), as well as the third most interceptions (3.0). When you combine those figures an average of 7.4 per game at Caen is not only the highest in France but enough to rank second in all of Europe’s top 5 leagues. With a further 1.2 dribbles per game Guilbert is a more than capable performer going forwards to boot and as a result took his place in WhoScored.com’s Ligue 1 team of the month for February at right-back.

Fernando Marcal (Guingamp from Benfica)

Elsewhere in France Guingamp will also be very keen to retain the services of their own on-loan full-back, with Brazilian Fernando Marcal having made quite the impact following his arrival from Benfica. Like Guilbert the 28-year old is the highest rated player for his team (7.45) having coupled some excellent defensive figures with admirable numbers at the other end of the pitch to boot.

The left-back certainly proved how capable he is in terms of defending on loan in Turkey last season, averaging the most tackles and interceptions per game combined in the Super Lig with Gaziantepspor (7.3), but his attacking output has been a welcome addition to mid-table Guingamp. A tally of 6 assists is the most at the club and the second most of any player in the league from open play, with his delivery from the flanks certainly contributing to an impressive 1.7 key passes per game.

Ricardo Pereira (Nice from Porto)

Following a trend of full-backs in Ligue 1, versatile Portugal international Pereira has unsurprisingly attracted plenty of interest during the second of a two-year loan spell with Nice. Yet again the highest rated player for his temporary club (7.56), the 23-year old’s role in what remains a very realistic and unexpected title bid cannot be understated. Having switched from left-back under Puel last season to a multitude of roles primarily down the right under Favre this, Pereira’s performances have remained consistent.

Currently out of action due to a knee injury suffered at the start of this year, it’s perhaps little coincidence that the Eaglets’ form has dipped following the winter break, very much missing the threat that Pereira carries from wide areas. While leading the club for tackles per game (3.3), his averages for both dribbles (1.4) and key passes per game (1.5) both rank among the top three at Nice, highlighting how important he has been at both ends. It seems unlikely that he will be with the club next season, or at Porto for that matter, so expect a big money move this summer.

Federico Fazio (Roma from Tottenham)

That’s right, Fazio. We’re as surprised as you and everyone else it seems after the centre-back was told by a Sky Italia reporter, “Everyone in Italy is shocked and surprised that you’ve been playing so well”. It was certainly a backhanded compliment but an honest one given the Argentine’s struggles to adapt to the pace of the Premier League with Spurs. With a lower intensity that has been no such issue at Roma, where he has quickly established himself as a key player, with coach Luciano Spalletti even claiming that he is so comfortable on the ball that he could even play in midfield.

For the time being he has been superb at the back though, helping Roma to maintain a title charge, albeit with a 7-point gap to Juventus. Make no mistake, the Giallorossi and Fazio have been the real deal this season, with the giant defender leading the way for interceptions in the capital (2.8). He’s better still when it comes to clearances, with an average of 8.1 the most in Serie A, while he’s also won a whopping 79% of 106 aerial duels. Tottenham fans may not be sad to see the back of him, but Roma are certainly delighted to have him, with the 29-year old - alongside Caldara - deservedly taking his place in WhoScored.com’s Serie A team of the season so far (7.59 rating).