Gyan admits his Shanghai SIPG future is uncertain after Hulk's arrival

Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has admitted that the arrival of Brazilian striker Hulk at Shanghai SIPG has left his future with the big-spending Chinese side in a balance.

The 30-year-old says he is considering his future with Shanghai SIPG as he is not second choice at the club because of the growing spate of his injuries.

The Black Stars captain says his persistent injuries coupled with the presence of Hulk have brought him down in the selection pecking order.

The Shanghai club SIPG signed Hulk from Russian Premier League side Zenit St Petersburg for a new Chinese transfer record of €55.8 million.

Gyan accepts that the Brazilian will be favoured ahead of him because his unending injury problems makes him unreliable.

“My stay at Shanghai SIPG is a bit complicated. Because of my persistent injuries they decided to bring in someone to augment the team so that the expectations on me will be reduced because of my current situation,” Gyan told Hot FM in Accra on Monday.

“For now is like I’m not reliable that is why they brought in Hulk from Brazil and he is going to be part of the strikers so my situation at Shanghai SIPG is complicated but I’m looking at options.

“Hulk will be part of the strikers but definitely he will be the preferable choice upfront due to my persistent injuries. So my future at Shanghai is 50-50,” he noted.

Hulk was given a whopping salary of €320,000 per week which makes his annual salary €16.6m.

The amount splashed on him is double of what Hulk's captain in the Brazilian national team Neymar, earns with Barcelona, making him one of the highest-paid footballers in the world.

Chinese Soccer League rules allow only four non-Asian imports and one Asian international to be fielded for each club in the top-flight.

Currently SIPG has six internationals with five non-Asian ones, namely Gyan, Hulk, Dario Conca, Jean Evrard Kouassi, and Elkeson. The team's Asian import is South Korean defender Kim Ju-young.

Gyan is currently earning €271,000 per week, which makes him the world's sixth highest-paid football player, and SIPG is said to be keen on getting him off their wage bill.

The former Liberty Professionals player has been hindered by niggling injuries which has led to a lackluster stint at the Shanghai Stadium.

In recent weeks, he has also lost his starting role in the SIPG team to 21-year-old Ivorian youngster, Kouassi.