Ghana's Gyan agrees season-long loan deal with UAE club

Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan is to join United Arab Emirates side Al Ain on a season-long loan from Sunderland, the Premier League club said Saturday

The 25-year-old international became Sunderland's record signing when he arrived at the Stadium of Light for 13 million pounds ($20 million) from French club Rennes just over a year ago, but has failed to settle.
“My wish would be that he finds his spark again and we see him in red and white stripes next season in the form that first attracted us to him,”Sunderland coach Steve Bruce said.
Gyan made his name at the 2010 World Cup where he scored three goals, but missed a penalty with the final kick of extra time in the quarterfinal against Uruguay. Ghana lost the ensuing penalty shootout, though Gyan did convert his kick.
Gyan scored 11 goals in 37 appearances for Sunderland, but found his place under threat after the recent signings of South Korea's Ji Dong-won, England under-21 striker Connor Wickham and Denmark's Nicklas Bendtner.
“Anyone who has seen Asamoah play will know that he hasn't been himself in recent months,” Bruce said. “This option suits all parties at the present time.”
Al Ain could not be reached for comment, but UAE media had previously reported that club's officials were in talks with Sunderland about the player.
Sunderland acknowledged that talks about a permanent move had taken place before the loan deal was agreed.
Former Ghana striker Abedi Pele played for Al Ain in the late 1990s, but Gyan will join a current squad containing mostly UAE players.