The summer loan signing of Nathan Tella looks as though it may have turned into one of the defining moments of Burnley's season.

Having joined the club on a temporary basis from Southampton back at the start of the campaign, the attacker has developed into a key player for the Clarets, as they charge towards an immediate promotion back to the Premier League from the Championship.

With nine league goals this season, no player has scored more times in the Championship for Vincent Kompany's side, while his two assists also highlight the creativity he has to go with his finishing ability.

As a result, you get the feeling that Tella is a player that those around Turf Moor will be desperate to retain the services of, even once that loan move comes to an end.

Luckily for Burnley, when you take a look at the respective positions of the two clubs involved in the deal for the 23-year-old, it could certainly be argued that they have a decent chance of being successful with that.

While the Clarets look to be on an almost unstoppable march to promotion right now, sitting 17 points clear at the top of the Championship table, having won their last nine league games, things are rather different at Tella's permanent club.

Southampton of course, currently sit bottom of the Premier League table, three points from safety, with their only league win in seven since the appointment of Nathan Jones as manager, coming against an Everton side who at the time, were still under the management of Frank Lampard.

As a result, with fan discontent against Jones rapidly growing off the pitch, and it looking increasingly difficult for the Saints to find wins on it, you do get the feeling that Burnley may have a better chance of being a Premier League side next season, than Southampton currently do.

Were that to be the case, then you feel the Clarets would have an excellent opportunity to complete a permanent move for Tella.

The attacker himself would surely prefer to get another chance to show what he can do in the Premier League, given he has already proven this season that he is more than capable of making an impact in the Championship.

Indeed, given how he has settled in and seemingly enjoyed life at Burnley, the chance to continue with Vincent Kompany's side in the Premier League as well, would surely appeal to him too.

Meanwhile, having invested so heavily in the January transfer window, the finacial blow of dropping out of the Premier League, would likely leave Southampton needing to recoup funds from elsewhere.

The sale of a player such as Tella is one way that the Saints could look to do that, particularly given that following their activity in the transfer market this season, they do have plenty of options in attack in his absence.

It seems therefore, that in spite of the cliche about not allowing yourself to fall for loan players being one of the most used these days, in the current circumstances, Tella's situation is one where Burnley fans could arguably allow themselves to do exactly that.