SIMON GRAYSON accepts Sunderland will not be signing Robert Snodgrass on a permanent basis before the end of the month – but the Black Cats boss has not given up hope of landing the West Ham United midfielder on loan.

Snodgrass has been told he does not have a future with the Hammers, and a host of Championship clubs have expressed an interest in acquiring his services.

Sunderland are one of those clubs, but with West Ham hoping to recoup the majority of the £7m they spent on the 29-year-old in January, and with Snodgrass understood to be earning around £70,000-a-week at the London Stadium, a permanent deal will be impossible.

A loan deal could be a viable option, although Sunderland would need West Ham to fund a sizeable chunk of Snodgrass’ wages.

“I can tell you now that we won’t be buying Robert Snodgrass because of the fee and wages that come with it,” said Grayson. “The only way we’ll get him is a loan deal. There won’t be too many clubs able to afford him in the Championship, if they can they have serious money.

“But he’s a player I like and will ask the question about his availability, like a lot of other managers.”

Grayson watched Sunderland’s unbeaten start to the season come to an abrupt end as his former club, Leeds United, claimed a 2-0 victory at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland started reasonably strongly, hitting the crossbar through Lewis Grabban, but goals from Samuel Saiz and Stuart Dallas condemned them to defeat.

“I thought we were the dominant team in the first 20 minutes,” said Grayson. “We had good tempo. But that’s the fine margins in games.

“I don’t think (Liam) Cooper knew too much about it hitting him on the head and onto the bar - 70 seconds later it’s in the back of our net.

“Credit to our players, they kept going and worked hard. We just lacked the real quality in the final end of the pitch which really matters.”