Manchester United are only willing to loan Adnan Januzaj to Sunderland despite David Moyes' attempts to secure a permanent move, Goal has learned.
The Belgium international has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford since his breakthrough 2013-14 season under new Sunderland boss Moyes, with a season-long loan spell at Borussia Dortmund last season cut short in January.
And while new United manager Jose Mourinho does not count Januzaj among the 26 players in his first-team squad, the club have resisted Moyes’ efforts to sign the 21-year-old outright.
After agreeing to sell defenders Paddy McNair and Donald Love to the Black Cats, however, United have also given Sunderland the nod to take Januzaj on loan until the end of the 2016-17 campaign.
The transfers involving McNair and Love – thought to be worth a total of £6 million – are "all but done" according to a Goal source, with Januzaj all set to follow them to the Stadium of Light as Moyes looks to bolster his options.
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Januzaj was a rare bright spot during Moyes’ troubled 10-month reign at Manchester United, netting four goals in 35 appearances including a double in his first league start in a 2-1 victory at Sunderland.
But while Moyes was said to be extremely keen to close a deal with United for the longer term, the Scot has resigned himself to accepting United's refusal to entertain that kind of offer.
United are thought to be wary of allowing another promising young talent to leave after re-signing Paul Pogba for a world-record £93.8m fee. The Frenchman was allowed to leave Old Trafford for a nominal sum four years ago.
Januzaj has made a total of 63 appearances for United, with five goals to his name in the red shirt.
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