Emmanuel Adebayor leads loan players with uncertain future

With the season nearing an end players up and down the country are starting to think about their future. One set of players, however, find themselves in an especially awkward situation.

Caught between two homes and unsure what colour strip they will be wearing come next season, players on loan face a summer of uncertainty.

Having scored a brace in Real Madrid’s 4-0 mauling of Tottenham last night, Emmanuel Adebayor is hoping he has done enough to secure a move to the Spanish capital.

Speaking after last night’s game he confirmed he would like to make his loan move from Manchester City permanent, but also said: "I don't know at the moment [about my future]. I just keep going working hard in training. I still have one or two months left so we will see."

It seems the Togolese striker is not the only one fretting about his future though. Nedum Onuoha, on loan at Sunderland from City, had said he is happy with life on Wearside, but accepts his future may not be decided for some time.

"It's difficult to say I belong to City because I don't even have a (squad) number there," he said. "Essentially I am still their player so I am in their hands."

Onuoha’s current Sunderland team mate Danny Welbeck is in a similar position. Steve Bruce is keen to make the Manchester man a permanent part of the Black Cats’ squad, but his old boss Sir Alex Ferguson seems reluctant to want to sell the England under-21 international.

Another player with an uncertain future is Alberto Aquilani, who is on loan at Juventus from Liverpool. The centre-midfielder’s agent last week said that his client will stay in Italy, but the Old Lady seem reluctant to meet Liverpool’s valuation of the player.

Robbie Keane, currently at West Ham but owned by Tottenham, has played for four clubs in two years and should Avram Grant’s side avoid the drop he will mostly likely sign permanent terms with the Hammers.

However, it remains to be seen whether West Ham will retain their Premier League status and should they not then Keane’s future will again be in doubt.

Another striker shrouded in uncertainty is Craig Bellamy. The Welsh international is on a season long loan to his beloved Cardiff City after being surprisingly frozen out of Roberto Mancini’s plans at Eastlands.

Bellamy and Cardiff find themselves in similar circumstances to Keane and West Ham, in that the club are unsure what division they will be in next season. If Cardiff – who currently sit third in the Championship – achieve promotion then their chances of keeping Bellamy will greatly improve, but if they fail to make it to the Premiership then they may not be able to afford the striker.

Expect a lot of jostling of position, declarations of loyalty and frustration as on loan players look to secure their futures in the coming months.