Since joining Port Vale on loan from Bolton Wanderers back in August 2021, there is no doubt that Dennis Politic has made quite the impression.
Politic shines at Vale
The 21-year-old, who missed the entirety of the 2020/21 campaign with a knee injury picked up in a pre-season friendly against Loughborough University, was added to the Valiants squad presumably to get some much needed minutes under his belt.
Despite only playing ten times in the league, with five of these being starts due to him suffering slight niggles at times, it is clear that he provides an extra attacking quality as he isn't afraid to drive and have a go at defenders.
Also, when drifting into wide positions, he has the ability to deliver dangerous deliveries into the area that are ideal for the likes of Jamie Proctor and James Wilson.
Most importantly though, when arriving into the box the Romanian can remain composed and obtain a killer finishing touch- an attribute that has changed games this season for Darrell Clarke's side.
This has most notably happened in the dramatic late 3-2 win in his debut at home to Leyton Orient and in the FA Cup when as a substitute he netted a brace at Burton Albion to send the club into the third round.
Politic departure further limiting Vale’s forward options
However, after featuring in 16 games in all competitions in which he has scored five and assisted four goals, Politic has been recalled by his parent club Bolton, according to Bolton news he is set for a move to Serie B side Cremonese for a reported £50,000.
With the loss of the natural winger, it is no secret that it is a blow to Vale's attacking options especially considering that they already have absentees in this department with Proctor and Devante Rodney, as well as Wilson having recently returned from a broken foot.
During the window so far, Vale's recruitment team have brought in two strikers on loan in Kian Harratt from Huddersfield Town and Ryan Edmondson from Leeds United.
Although at the ages of 19 and 20 retrospectively, they are both inexperienced and will need time with the club to settle in and get familiar with the standard of senior football.
This makes the departure of Politic even more damaging, especially considering the worry to defences that he can cause.
Clarke on Politic return to Bolton
Following the former Manchester United academy player return to Bolton, after his side's 1-0 loss at home to Salford City on Tuesday, Clarke said that the club were looking to bring the player in on a permanent basis, but he did not want to break the wage structure that is in place.
"Dennis was outstanding. We was in for him, but there is a wage structure at this football club that I don't want to break.
"I have got great support at this football club and there is not going to be a gulf between players wages. I don't want that, I don't think that is the right way to build it.
"We are not money bags, we try to do things at a sensible level and get competitive.
"When they want the sort of wages that they want, it knocks everything out of sync for me".
The 44-year old continued: "I want players that have high incentives in the wages, to make sure that they earn it. They don't get a bonus unless we are in the top seven.
"We want players coming in and being rewarded for success and that is the platform that we are building here.
"That is the right platform and sometimes you miss out on one or two players, but that is the way of the world."