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Gyan leaves Sunderland for Al Ain on loan

Asamoah Gyan has joined Al Ain © PA Photos

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Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan has agreed a one-year loan deal with United Arab Emirates side Al Ain.

The Ghana international was the subject of some criticism from manager Steve Bruce at the close of the transfer window, as he complained that the striker - a £13 million signing at the Stadium of Light last summer - had "had his head turned" by "parasites" talking in his ear about the possibility of a move to a bigger club.

And now the 25-year-old has at least got his wish to leave Sunderland, joining Al Ain for the year on a temporary deal that is likely to financially benefit both the club and player.

"Anyone who has seen Asamoah play will know that he hasn't been himself in recent months. This option suits all parties at the present time and the club is well-protected in the deal," Bruce said in a club statement. "Asamoah has three years remaining on his contract and of course 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."

Al Ain contacted the club early in the week about the possibility of a permanent deal, but a loan arrangement was eventually thrashed out in the early hours of Saturday morning.

"I have signed a one-year loan deal with Al Ain club in the United Arab Emirates," Gyan reportedly told GHANAsoccernet.com. "I will continue to wear my favourite No. 3 jersey at Al Ain as I begin a new adventure but with Sunderland still engrained on my heart."

The UAE club then announced the deal on their official website, showing the forward wearing his new shirt.

On Friday, Bruce expressed his displeasure at Gyan's attitude and demanded he re-focus after failing to get a move in the summer - blaming an increased profile after scoring against England in a friendly draw for his change in approach.

"Since that game at Wembley, all the parasites, as I call them, hover around," said Bruce. "People are in his ear constantly trying to engineer a deal for him. Certainly since the England game, when he played at Wembley so well on the night, something has been troubling him.

"It's very difficult, the constant speculation no matter what you try to quash or quell, and the people around him, the people who want to make a fast buck, and it affects him in the end.

"He was going from Real Madrid to Bayern Munich to Valencia to Atletico Madrid.

"We have had a discussion with him and he needs now to focus and get himself back on track again and be the Asamoah Gyan we know he is capable of. I had a conversation with him two days ago to say, 'Look, the window as now closed, Asa. Right, we need to see you back playing again and back the way you know you can play'."

Sunderland's attacking options now include Nicklas Bendtner, Connor Wickham and Ji-Dong won.

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