Scunthorpe United are trying to secure the permanent signing of Sunderland defender Cliff Byrne.
The 20-year-old has enjoyed a successful three-month loan spell at Glanford Park.
And United have until Friday to complete a deal if Byrne is to play a further part in their promotion challenge.
Scunthorpe boss Brian Laws said: "His loan finishes on Friday so he must be signed by then or it will not be sanctioned by the Premier League because of their transfer window.
"We have tried to get help from the Premier League for years.
"But it seems that their rules and regulations mean that when they do give us a hand, they are taking it back away.
"Urgency is at a premium," Laws told the Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph newspaper.
Byrne has also held talks with Sunderland manager Howard Wilkinson about his future prospects at the Stadium of Light as he weighs up Scunthorpe's offer.