Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill can't see a future at the club for Asamoah Gyan.
The Ghana striker is currently playing on-loan at Al Ain.
Gyan has two years remaining on his contract and while any decision on his future is yet to be finalised, O'Neill has suggested it may not lie with him.
He said: "The situation is, I believe it was a year-long loan for a start for which they had to pay us some money of the transfer fee which we paid in the first place, and that is still in existence.
"There was some talk between all parties in January that didn't come to anything. I wasn't party to those conversations, although I was kept informed of them, of course.
"I think it will be the end of the season before I can assess anything.
"There has to be a willingness on behalf of all parties as well; you wouldn't really want somebody who is really unwilling to come back to the football club, if that's the case.
"It's unfair of me to say that because it might not be the case, but it seems to be the message that's coming across."