West Ham United are reportedly interested in Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe.
Well-known sports presenter Richard Keys has criticised West Ham United on his website for their (reported) pursuit of Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe in the January transfer window.
Defoe has been on the books of Sunderland since January 2015 and has a contract with the Black Cats until June 2019, according to Transfermarkt.co.uk.
BBC Sport reported earlier this month that the Hammers had made a £6 million bid for the former West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur striker.
West Ham could also lose star player Dimitri Payet in the January transfer window, with manager Slaven Bilic recently telling The Sun that the France international attacking midfielder has said that he does not want to play for the London club anymore.
Former Sky Sports presenter Keys has given his thoughts on the situations of Payet and Defoe.
“Come on,” Keys wrote on his website. “Let’s get real. Transfers are a dirty business – if you want a player you do everything you can to turn his head – which is exactly what West Ham did to get Payet.
“To a lesser extent – aren’t they doing that right now to unsettle Jermaine Defoe? Sunderland haven’t publicly said as much – yet – but privately they know that’s exactly what’s happening.”
Payet has scored two goals and created 72 chances in 18 Premier League appearances for West Ham so far this season.
Defoe has scored 12 goals and created 12 chances in 21 Premier League matches for Sunderland so far this campaign.
West Ham are 12th in the Premier League table at the moment, while Sunderland are currently second from bottom in the standings.
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