Bruce is not put off being the loan arranger

May 15 2011 by James Hunter, Sunday Sun

STEVE BRUCE admits the loan system has proved a double-edged sword for Sunderland.

The Black Cats took five players on loan this term – Ahmed Elmohamady, Danny Welbeck, Nedum Onuoha, John Mensah and Sulley Muntari – but of those, only Elmohamady is guaranteed to stay on Wearside beyond the end of the season, with a £2m move for the Egyptian already in place.

Muntari returned to Inter Milan last week after Bruce decided against signing him permanently, and Mensah will go back to Lyon, although there is still a chance he will be back for a third season-long loan on Wearside.

Welbeck and Onuoha have been hits during their stays – but, ironically, that has DECREASED Bruce’s chances of signing them.

Onuoha’s form means Manchester City will not let him go on the cheap, while Welbeck has also enhanced his reputation and Sunderland’s only hope of prising him away from Manchester United would be another loan deal.

“The ones we have brought in, ideally, I would love to become part of the squad, but sometimes it is just not possible,” he said.

“When you take a player from a foreign club on loan, you have to have some sort of permanent deal in place – usually depending on how many appearances they make.

“That was the case with Muntari, John Mensah and Elmohamady.