Sunderland manager Steve Bruce hoping to hold on to loan stars Muntari, Mensah & Onuoha at end of season

EPL: Steve Bruce, Tottenham – Sunderland (Getty Images)

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Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has declared his desire to hold onto all the players the Black Cats currently have on loan beyond the summer.

Ahmed Elmohamady recently admitted he would be happy to sign for the club on a permanent basis from Egyptian side ENPPI, but Bruce wants his other four loan stars, including Sulley Muntari, John Mensah, Danny Welbeck and Nedum Onuoha, to follow suit.

Speaking to reporters, Bruce said: “We’ve five players on loan and they have all done well, so my immediate priority is can we secure all of them?

“The big doubt for me is Welbeck and we have to be respectful to Manchester United. We will ask the question.

“It’s a double-edged sword because the better he does for us, the more he improves, the more likely he is to go back.

“Nedum Onuoha is a bright boy, a good defender, great to have around and has made a huge contribution.

“We will make that a permanent deal at £2.5m. He has been fantastic in his first year in the Premier League.

“Muntari is desperate to stay here. He had easily his best game for us at Arsenal last Saturday week and he is getting fitter. He hadn’t played for about six months at Inter Milan, but he is the type of midfielder that I’ve been wanting.

“The deal is in place, but can we satisfy his wage demands because the kid has taken a hell of a pay drop to come here? We’ll do our utmost.

“John Mensah has been unfortunate because he has had injuries. He has dislocated his ankle and twisted his shoulder. With John we’ll see where we are at the end of the season.”