It's getting very close to decision time in leagues all around Europe. Emotions are sure to be mixed as fortunes are settled by fine margins in many cases - something our players out on loan are experiencing too. It's a perfect time to check in on their progress:
Nico Mantl | Viborg FF
Our goalkeeper is on the crest of a wave - his side have been a roaring success in the relegation group in the Danish Superliga (akin to the Austrian qualification group). Some 14 points from six matches have seen Viborg make the top of the pack of six. The European dream lives on for De Gronne as a result! Nico is in fine personal form too, playing every possible minute, keeping two clean sheets and being voted into the Superliga Team of the Month in April!
Ignace Van der Brempt | SV Hamburg
Inni recently suffered muscular problems, which ruled him out of the Hamburg side for a while. The Belgian was back in time for the big clashes against Bundesliga 2 leaders Holstein Kiel and local rivals St. Pauli. His side secured bragging rights in the local derby but are set to spend a seventh season in the second flight with a four-point gap on the promotion play-off space with two matches remaining.
Dijon Kameri | Grasshopper Club Zürich
The young attacker has also been struck by injury misfortune. Clearly the Hoppers missed Dijon, as they lost five consecutive matches and failed to score in four. While new coach Marco Schällibaum has inspired progress, the Zurich side are on course for the relegation play-off.
Kamil Piatkowski | FC Granada
Since we last checked on our loanees in the middle of March, the big defender has had a difficult time. He has only gained a minute of action for the Andalusian side, and has otherwise needed to content himself with a spot on the substitutes' bench. Granada are in severe danger of relegation, with anything less than a win against champions Real Madrid at the weekend certain to bring an end to their one-year spell in the Spanish top flight.
Kilian Ludewig | TSV 1860 Munich
After taking a while to settle in, the full-back is now a regular for the Lions in the German third tier. Last weekend he was part of celebrations as they marked 125 years as a club, but the event would have been sweeter had the club not missed the chance to secure survival. They still have some work to do therefore after a difficult season.
Mamadou Sangare | TSV Hartberg
Since October, the Malian has started every single match of the surprises of the season in the ADMIRAL Bundesliga - except when suspended. While the attacker has room to improve with just one goal involvement so far in 2024, Hartberg are in with a chance of securing their second European spot in club history. They are fifth currently, which would put them in the European play-off.
Lukas Ibertsberger & Samson Tijani | WAC
Lukas has switched between the starting XI and the substitute's bench, but Manfred Schmid has certainly reapt the benefits when the U21 international has started. Since the beginning of March, when the full-back has not been picked, WAC have failed to win. There is no budging Samson from the side, on the other hand, and he has played his part in WAC having the joint-strongest defence in the championship group.
