Asante Kotoko open negotiations with Asamoah Gyan while star demand $500,000 for move
Ghana Premier League side Asante Kotoko have officially opened negotiations to bring Asamoah Gyan to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium this summer.
While conversations have already commenced, the former Sunderland forward’s move back to the Ghana Premier League won’t come easy with heavy price looming ahead of Kotoko.
The 34-year old scored 10 goals in 16 Ghana Premier League games in his five year stay with Liberty Professionals before leaving for Seria A side Udinese in 2008 and could return to homeland with Kotoko looking his likeliest destination.
The Ghana Premier League side have planned conquering African Inter Club football again and started channeling efforts to lift the CAF Champions League if not this season, the next one or two.
But efforts begin with this season as Kotoko have decided to work with only 30 players including bringing in four exceptional players in the 2020/2021 season- which starts November.
Gyan’s move to the Porcupine Warriors has been regarded as one of the exceptional signings the club will do this summer according to our close sources.
Two weeks ago, Futball Surgery reported that Kotoko are planning to begin negotiations with Gyan. And that report has is underway after Accra based Radio Station Angel 102.9 FM revealing that Kotoko have contacted Gyan over a potential move.
The African World Cup top scorer remains a free agent after departing Indian Premier League side NorthEast United at the end of last season.
The former Black Stars striker is understood to demand a huge sum of $500,000 before knee on completing a move to Kotoko.
Whiles Kotoko see Gyan’s demand as excess, the Ghana Premier League outfit could still secure a move for the Ghanaian International as they are confident of agreement lesser than Gyan’s asking price.
Most Kotoko supporters may be happy with their club’s latest move for Gyan but a couple have raised concerns about the forward’s asking price.
Some Kotoko fans have said the price is huge that may have far reaching impacts on their spending this term but Gyan’s entourage has defender their client’s asking price.
Entourage manager Samuel Anim Addo reports that the Gyan’s value is above $500,000 and Kotoko would benefit both on and off the pitch if they are able to sign his client.
“With proper marketing, promotion and branding the impact of Asamoah Gyan on Kumasi Asante will be huge”, Anim Addo told Angel 102.9 FM.
“So where from this agenda that the money is too much?”, he asked. “That is very wrong. The man is ten times valuable than the figure which has been quoted. There are so many avenues Kotoko can get Gyan to raise revenue for the club to protect his image and the brand”.
Gyan is also monitored by PSL giants Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs amid competition for Kotoko. Gyen has represented Ghana at almost all competitions of the Black Stars.
He made his international debut at the age of 17, three days before his 18th birthday. Gyan scored on his senior International debut for Ghana against Somalia on 19 November 2003 in the 90th minute.
He replaced Isaac Boakye on the 62nd minute in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier, three days before he turned 18 years; helping Ghana to win that game, and making him the youngest ever player to score for Ghana.
In June 2006, Gyan scored Ghana’s first ever goal in their FIFA World Cup history when the Black Stars whipped Czech Republic 2-0 but the African giants were crushed out of the competition by former champions Brazil at the quarter finals.
In 2010 World Cup, he continued his fine form in the FIFA World Cup, netting in Ghana’s open game against Serbia and the Stars’ second and 1/16 games against Australia and USA respectively.
However, Gyan missed a hunting quarter finals penalty against Uruguay in the competition at South Africa.
His last World Cup goals came in Brazil 2014 scoring in Ghana’s 2-2 draw against Germany and in 2-1 defeat to Portugal. With 6 goals, he is the top African goalscorer in the history of the World Cup.
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