Sunderland are believed to be in advanced talks for Ghana star Asamoah Gyan, according to Sky Sports.
Sunderland have been linked with the Rennes striker for a while, and adding another forward before the deadline would appear to be the top priority for manager Steve Bruce. The Black Cats did sign Manchester United on loan earlier this month, but there is still money to spend and a hole to fill after the sale of Kenwyne Jones to Stoke City for 8m pounds. And, Bruce’s forward options were diminished further in Sunday’s 1-0 win over Manchester City, as Fraizer Campbell suffered knee ligament damage that could result in an extended layoff.
With the deadline fast approaching, it appears Sunderland are stepping up their pursuit of Gyan, whose career has been blighted by injuries but has shown over the last year what he’s fully capable of when fit.
Despite injury ruling him out for much of the 2007/08 season, Rennes still spent 8m euros to land him from Udinese in the summer of 2008. Injury once again disrupted his debut season with the French side, but the 24-year-old looks to have overcome his injury misfortune.
Last season, he netted 13 goals in 27 league starts for Rennes, and in the 2010 African Cup of Nations, he scored three goals to spearhead Ghana’s run to the finas, where they fell to Egypt. His star really rose at the 2010 World Cup, as he scored three goals, including an extra-time winner against the U.S. in the round of 16, to help Ghana reach the quarterfinals.
If Sunderland are successful in securing Gyan’s signature, the deal could surpass the current club-record fee that was spent to bring his soon-to-be strike partner Darreen Bent from Tottenham last summer.
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