Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG have made a big-money offer for former Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan, sources have told ESPN FC.

Gyan, 29, is currently plying his trade in the UAE with Al Ain, but former England and Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, who took over at Shanghai in November 2014, wants to make him a marquee signing in a bid to lift the club's profile.

City rivals Shanghai Shenhua have already agreed a deal to bring in former Chelsea star Demba Ba from Besiktas and second-placed Shanghai SIPG now want to bring in their own big-name striker for the second half of the campaign to help boost their title charge.

Gyan is the current Ghana captain and is the country's all-time leading goalscorer with 48 goals in 90 games, while he has been in prolific form in the UAE Pro-League scoring 73 goals in 63 appearances to help them retain their title.

The Ghanaian had a two-year spell at Sunderland between 2010-12 and scored 10 goals in 34 appearances for the Black Cats before joining Al Ain -- initially on loan but then making the move permanent a year later.

He signed a new contract last summer, extending his stay at Al Ain until 2018.