The 20-year-old Northern Ireland international has made 30 first-team appearances for the Black Cats during his two spells on Wearside, and accepts that his United career could be coming to an end.

Evans told the Sunderland Echo: "When Roy Keane says he wants you, it's a massive compliment. If he wanted to make this move permanent, it's something I would want to talk about.

"Playing in the Premier League in games that matter is what it's all about, and what I want to be doing for a few years to come.

"But nothing has been said at all by Sunderland or Manchester United about anything beyond this season. Everything's very similar to the situation when I was here last season.

"The most important thing at the moment is that we get results and no-one is looking beyond our next game."