Sunderland boss Gus Poyet admits his January signings face uncertain futures as they battle against the drop.
The Black Cats brought in five players in the mid-season transfer window, but only two of those - Liam Bridcutt and Nacho Scocco - were signed on long-term deals.
Goalkeeper Oscar Ustari was a free agent but signed a contract that runs only until the end of the season, while defenders Santiago Vergini and Marcos Alonso both joined on loan from Estudiantes and Fiorentina respectively.
"The deals do not automatically become permanent if we stay up," Poyet told the Evening Chronicle.
"But of course I like them - that is why I brought them here.
"The problem is, we don't know what our situation is going to be next season.
"Until that is resolved, we can't make offers to them - and it would not be fair to ask them to commit to us, either."
