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Sunderland explain decision to let Gyan leave

Asamoah Gyan has joined Al-Ain on loan for the season © PA Photos

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Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has outlined the reasons why he decided to allow striker Asamoah Gyan to join United Arab Emirates club Al-Ain on a season-long loan deal.

The Ghana international surprisingly joined Al-Ain on a temporary basis on Saturday, with Black Cats manager Steve Bruce hitting out at Gyan over his desire to leave.

The move has led to questions in the media about the ambition of both the player and the club, and Quinn has attempted to set the record straight about Sunderland's motivation behind the transaction.

"From the moment Asamoah returned for pre-season training we could tell that there were people trying to move him on," Quinn said in a statement on the club's official website. "We hoped it would pass by, rebuking approaches from the Premier League, France and Turkey and felt the player would settle back down and continue to help our cause.

"Throughout this time we were also receiving real interest from Al-Ain, but it looked as if that too had lost momentum by last Wednesday.

"Steve spoke to Asamoah on Thursday morning, asking him to knuckle down and we were all set to move on. Later that day however Al-Ain began a prolonged effort to get the deal back on track and this turned the player's attentions once more to a possible move.

"Come Friday, the chairman of Al-Ain and his advisors had flown into Newcastle and arrived at our training ground to discuss a potential deal for Asa.

"They were very professional but determined to sign the player and at this point we took a number of things into consideration: the player's obviously negative demeanour in and around the training ground; the fact that the transfer window in the UAE had over 50 days remaining, meaning this was unlikely to go away; the clear desire of the player to leave; the forthcoming African Nations Cup, which would have meant losing Asamoah for up to six weeks in the new year; the obvious economic benefits to our club in the terms of the final deal laid out to us.

"In the early hours of Saturday morning chief executive Margaret Byrne and myself agreed a loan deal to allow Asamoah his wish to move but that would also, and more importantly, protect the club should things not work out for the player."

Sunderland will reportedly receive around £6 million for the player's loan, along with taking his wages off the books for a season. Quinn has revealed that relations are actually still strong between Bruce and Gyan, and the door is open if the 25-year-old wants to return next season - although Sunderland will nevertheless look to buy a new striker in January.

"Steve's frustrations towards the player, expressed minutes after the Chelsea game, were understandable at such a time but I can reveal that since then Asamoah and Steve have made contact and they are on good terms," he said. "The olive branch is now there for Asamoah, but he will need to convince Steve, the board and every Sunderland fan of his commitment to this club if he is to return.

"I am delighted however that he has agreed to make a sizeable donation to SAFC Foundation for each month that he is away on loan.

"It also goes without saying that this puts Steve and his recruitment options in a far stronger position for the January window."

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