Sunderland boss Steve Bruce admits is it unlikely that he will be able to sign Danny Welbeck on a permanent basis.
The striker is on a season-long from Manchester United and has impressed at the Stadium of Light with a number of crucial goals in recent weeks.
Bruce revealed he would be keen to tie the 19-year-old to a long-term deal at the club but is aware of how difficult that would be.
Bruce told the Sunderland Echo: "Danny is playing terrifically well at the moment and the Premier League is beginning to sit up and take notice.
"I'm delighted for him because I think he's really finding his feet in the Premier League with us and his success is our success.
"But, in terms of converting any loan player to a permanent signing, you have to accept it's a fact of life that in most cases, the better they do the less chance you have of getting them.
"And the way that Danny is going, if he continues his progress, he'll be out of the reach of any but the very biggest clubs around."
