DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The chief executive officer of Al Ain says the United Arab Emirates club is "confident" that it can sign Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan on a permanent basis in June.

Gyan has told the club he would like to stay and the club is keen to keep him as it returns to the Asian Champions League next year.

Gyan, who left English Premier League club Sunderland last year, has led the UAE club to the league title. He is the league's leading scorer with 17 in 15 games.

Gyan is on a season-long loan from Sunderland but Carlo Nohra says he expects to sign Gyan on a permanent deal when the loan agreement ends. Gyan has told the club he would like to stay and the club is keen to keep him as it returns to the Asian Champions League next year.

Details of Gyan's loan deal have not been published, although reports say Sunderland was paid 6 million pounds ($9.5 million).