Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill is planning to speak to Asamoah Gyan next week to discuss the striker's long-term future.

Gyan is currently on a season-long loan with Al-Ain after the Black Cats accepted a deal worth around £6million from the United Arab Emirates side in August.

Reports have claimed that, the Black Cats outfit will try to bring Gyan back to the club in January but Al-Ain have insisted the Ghana international will be staying in the Middle East.

However O'Neill is keen to introduce himself to Gyan after he took charge at the Sunderland.

"The chief executive gave me his number, I haven't had a chance to call it," said O'Neill.

"Really, it was just a matter of me introducing myself to him as much as anything else and finding out how the land lies.

"I think perhaps the club he is involved with have got a pretty strong hold on him in many aspects, but still it would be nice just to have a few words.

"That I intend to do some time next week."