As you begin to look further down the English football pyramid, player loans are a lot more common.

In the top flight of English football, the 20 clubs are incredibly wealthy, and often a lot richer than the teams even just one league below them.

Just look at Nottingham Forest, who brought in 25 new players this season (excluding loan players).

Typically, to help with the financial struggles of trying to climb through the football league, lower league teams will utilise the academy players of Premier League clubs.

That way the Premier League club can give their academy players first team football and experience, and the Football League club will receive a good quality player in return that is cheaper than signing a player permanently.

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Palace have 13 players out on loan, mostly to clubs in the Football League, as well as non-league clubs.

However they also have goalkeeper Jack Butland on loan at Manchester United, while Remi Matthews and Malachi Boateng are plying their trade in the Scottish Premiership.

Meanwhile defender Jake O'Brien is out in Belgium with RWD Molenbeek. 

We’ve put together a list of the three best Palace performers on loan this season, and considered whether they have what it takes to make it into the first team next season.

 

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi

 

Rak-Sakyi is probably the most promising, if not the most productive youngster that Palace have sent on loan this year.

The 20-year-old has 13 goals and seven assists in his time with Charlton this term, and has even been nominated for the EFL Young Player of the Season award.

Rak-Sakyi has played multiple positions for Charlton, including left wing and centre forward, but his natural position is as a right winger.

The Eagles have been linked with a number of wingers for the upcoming transfer window, as Palace look to get themselves a back-up for Michael Olise.

But with Zaha’s contract due to run out at the end of the season, and no current plans to extend it, Rak-Sakyi may have to play a bigger role for Palace sooner rather than later.

 

Killian Philips

 

Killian Phillips has spent half of this season on loan at Shrewsbury Town. The 21-year-old joined Shrewsbury in January, and has three goals and two assists in his 15 appearances there, with his most recent coming in a defeat to Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday (April 18).

Phillips hasn’t had a chance to play first team football for The Eagles yet, but his current loan move is the first he’s been given by the club, and he’s already attracting interest from around the country.

After his impressive performances this season, both Luton Town and Millwall are said to be interested in the midfielder, according to Football Insider.

But Palace already have an abundance of talent in midfield, so Phillips’ chances of breaking into the first team may be slim.

However, there is a chance that one of Millwall or Luton will be promoted to the Premier League next season anyway, as both sides currently sit in the play-off positions.

So Phillips may well be playing in the Premier League next year, even if it isn’t at Selhurst Park.

 

Scott Banks

News Shopper: Scott Banks playing for Scotland U21sScott Banks playing for Scotland U21s (Image: PA)

 

Banks is a 21-year-old right winger who is currently on loan at Bradford City. 

His six goals and two assists have helped fire Bradford into sixth position, and The Bantams are on course to finish in the play-off places for the first time since their relegation from League One three years ago.

Bradford is Banks’ third loan destination since his arrival at Palace in January 2020, and is his most productive loan spell to date.

The Scotsman had spent two previous seasons at Alloa Athletic and Dunfermline Athletic, and like Rak-Sakyi, he will be keen to impress the new Palace manager in pre-season.

Although another loan to a club higher up in the Football League will probably be the best and most likely option for Banks, Palace’s interest in new wingers may leave the door open for the youngster.