Asamoah Gyan appears set to sever ties with Sunderland this summer, with Al Ain confident of securing his services on a permanent basis.
Ghanaian striker set to make permanent move to Middle East
Asamoah Gyan appears set to sever ties with Sunderland this summer, with Al Ain confident of securing his services on a permanent basis.
Gyan moved to the United Arab Emirates on a season-long loan in September 2011 and has helped Al Ain to the Pro League title.
He has netted 22 goals in all competitions and is said to be enjoying his time in the Middle East.
Al Ain hope they can convince the Ghana international to pen a full-time contract, offering him a route out of Sunderland.
Chief executive Carlo Nohra has previously revealed that the club have first refusal on Gyan and, despite reported interested from elsewhere, believes an agreement will be reached this summer.
"I'm very confident that he will be staying," Nohra told
Sport360.
Logistics
"He has indicated on a number of occasions that he would like to remain at the club.
"There is a loan agreement that we need to work out with Sunderland, but what is really important is that the player wants to be here and we would like to keep him.
"Now it's about working out the logistics of a transfer.
"That doesn't mean it's going to happen, but the seeds are there for us to ensure that this becomes a long-term deal."
Gyan joined Sunderland in the summer of 2010, with the Black Cats paying a club record £13.1million transfer fee to French outfit Rennes.
He impressed during his debut season in English football, but grew increasingly unsettled and was allowed to move on by former Sunderland boss Steve Bruce.
