Reading manager Jaap Stam has confirmed that Asamoah Gyan failed a medical with the club which led to the collapse of his transfer.
Gyan looked set to complete an unlikely move to the Royals last week from Chinese side Shanghai SIPG but the deal fell through in the final moments.
The Ghana international claimed that the transfer was called off as Reading asked him to not participate in next January’s Africa Cup of Nations, but Stam has strenuously denied this allegation.
The manager has revealed that the real reason Gyan’s loan move to the Championship side wasn’t signed off was because he failed a medical, with the results showing the 30-year-old could need eight weeks to get to full fitness.
Speaking at a press conference, Stam said: “He wasn’t in very good shape. When he joined us they did a very good medical on him which was very important because he’s been injured in the past. He hasn’t been playing a lot of games.
“You need to be sure, if you bring a player in, that he’s fit and not that you need to work him for six to eight weeks to get him in shape. And maybe there’s a risk of him getting injured during that period so he’s out for a longer time.
“And then he needs to go to Ghana in January and we lose him for two months. So it’s a big risk.
“He wasn’t in good shape, that was the case. Of course the player says he was in good shape because he wants to play, but he wasn’t. Our medical people are not going to be lying about that.
“That’s why we made the decision not to sign him.”
Stam has also admitted to questioning the potential deal for Gyan during the negotiation process, saying he wondered why Shanghai were letting a player of his quality leave if there weren’t problems.
The Dutchman added: “To be honest he wasn’t that expensive and you have to think why can he leave his club? Is there a reason he can leave that club if he’s that fit?
“So you have to think about that as well. But we’re always looking for quality strikers.”
Gyan has now completed a loan deal to Al-Ahli Dubai in the wake of his failed move to Reading, having scored seven goals in 20 appearances for the Shanghai club.
Reading sit 15th in the Championship having won twice in their opening five matches.
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