Unlike some elite clubs such as Manchester City and Chelsea, Manchester United do not have an extensive loanee list. Their transfer policy not usually been directed towards signing players without any intention of them being involved in first-team action.

Of the nine players currently out on loan from Old Trafford, six are those who progressed through the club’s academy while the remaining three are former first-team players who fell out of favour.

The club recently used the loan market to its advantage when landing Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo in January, so we assess how those on temporary moves away from Manchester are getting on.

Alexis Sanchez (Inter)

Rarely has a transfer promised so much yet delivered so little as the Chilean forward’s move to Old Trafford from Arsenal in January 2018. A prolonged run of poor form saw him shipped out to Serie A last summer (although United are still subsidising a large chunk of the wage bill) and, despite initial signs of promise, his stint at Inter has been savaged by injuries.

He has made just two league starts and only one in the last six months – the February derby win over Milan – and failed to make an impact in the recent defeats to Juventus and Lazio.

The Nerazzurri have made multiple permanent signings this season – including Romelu Lukaku and Ashley Young from United – but they are unlikely to make it a hat-trick with Sanchez, who may prove difficult to shift this summer due to his wage structure.

Chris Smalling (Roma)

The England defender is one player permanently on United’s books who has impressed in Italy’s top-flight and looks certain to be moved on for a fee this summer.

Indeed, the former Fulham defender may well add to his 31 international caps with England boss Gareth Southgate admitting that he now ‘regrets’ his previous criticism of the player. Smalling himself said he has a ‘decision to make’ in summer, but his form at the heart of Roma’s defence has seen his asking price increase.

That in turn may mean that he is now out of Roma’s price range and could signal a return to the Premier League.

Marcos Rojo (Estudiantes)

The Argentina international spent five-and-a-half seasons at Old Trafford before becoming part of the mass clearout in the past 12 months. The tenacious 30-year-old joined Argentine side Estudiantes on loan in January but has made just one appearance to date – a defeat against Defensa y Justicia.

Estudiantes are the club where Rojo began his career and a return to Old Trafford looks unlikely, particularly with the improvement in Luke Shaw’s form alongside the emergence of Brandon Williams.

However, the player will still believe he can make a mark in European football and, like Smalling, should make the Red Devils some transfer income this summer.

Joel Castro Pereira (Hearts)

The Portugal youth international was once one of United’s great talents coming through the youth system with an expectation that he could be a long-term replacement for David De Gea. However, such a scenario now appears unlikely following a series of loan spells including a disappointing campaign in Scotland.

Hearts are at the foot of the top-flight and enduring a miserable campaign, while Pereira has conceded 11 in his past three games and been dropped from the starting line-up. This is his fifth temporary spell away from United but his next exit is probable to be a permanent one.

Dean Henderson (Sheffield United)

The 23-year-old’s progress in recent years has been remarkable – starring each of the top four tiers in English football from 2016 onwards. Successful loan stints at Grimsby and then Rochdale led to his switch to the Blades in the summer of 2018, where his excellent form helped propel them to the top-flight and now on the brink of European qualification.

Such has been Henderson’s improvements that many believe he is now England’s best goalkeeper while there is also an argument he should usurp De Gea – whose form has been patchy for 18 months – in the United’s starting line-up.

His ability and potential are undoubted but ousting the Spaniard could be a step too far, but will he wait long to be given his opportunity – his future will be interesting to follow this summer.

Cameron Borthwick-Jackson (Oldham)

The left-back was one of the group of youngsters to benefit from Louis van Gaal’s stint in the Old Trafford dugout – making 14 first-team appearances in the second half of the 2015/16 campaign. But he failed to kick on and failed to make that number of outings combined across loan spells with Wolves and then Leeds in the Championship.

He looked more at home in League One last year at Scunthorpe, while his time at Tranmere was cut short this year before moving to Oldham in the tier below. Now aged 23, he will be out of contract this summer and will surely move on in a free.

Kieran O’Hara (Burton Albion)

Another 23-year-old, O’Hara has won two senior caps for the Republic of Ireland and is a regular for Burton Albion in League One. His progress was halted by a six-match ban after allegedly biting the arm of Peterborough forward Sammie Szmodics.

The Irishman is on his seventh loan stint away from the Red Devils and like Borthwick-Jackson and Pereira, it is likely that he will be moved on permanently in the near future.

Ethan Hamilton (Bolton Wanderers)

The former Scottish youth international has impressed in League One for Rochdale, Southend and now Bolton – who are facing relegation this campaign but are thankful to still have a club due to their off-field chaos.

He penned a senior contract with United in the summer of 2018 for the first time and featured in pre-season for Jose Mourinho’s side but could not break beyond the reserves. Looks likely to stay again this summer and be loaned on once more.

George Tanner (Salford City)

The full-back has been a regular in United’s youth and reserve sides in recent years before gaining first-team experience this season. He featured 29 times for Morecambe up to and including January before moving to their League Two rivals Salford, part-owned by former United players of the ‘Class of 92’.

He has yet to feature for his new club but, like Hamilton, is likely to have at least another year to prove himself before a permanent departure.