Inter's Sulley Muntari is desperate to sign a permanent deal at Sunderland, claims Coach Steve Bruce.

The Nerazzurri midfielder is on loan at the Stadium of Light until the end of the season after arriving in January.

“Muntari is desperate to stay here,” he said. “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, 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.”

“He is technically very good - you don't play for clubs like Inter Milan unless you are a very, very good player and we are delighted to have him here.”

“He can only get better and is enjoying the challenges of the Premier League and the rigours of it.

Meanwhile his teammate and ex Chievo defender John Mensah believes Muntari would be better suited in an attacking position

“Sulley likes goal scoring but maybe that's not the kind of game the manager wants in these matches,” said Mensah.

“I believe Sulley can play in all the midfield positions because he has a powerful shot with his left foot and he can score and defend.

“The Sulley I know in the national team plays on the left wing. He gets forward, comes back to defend and sometimes gets in front of the attackers.

“I believe he can do that for Sunderland too if the manager wants him too. But the manager can make the decision on the team and he knows the way he wants to use him.”