West Ham United surely need to bolster their attacking options this summer, and a January target could perhaps be a good option to pursue.
Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe
West Ham may have given up on trying to sign Jermain Defoe during the January transfer window (via Telegraph), but with Sunderland’s situation in the Premier League looking so bleak now, renewing their interest in the summer could be a wise decision.
The Telegraph reported in January that the Hammers had made two bids for the 34-year-old, but ultimately switched their attention elsewhere after failing to reach any agreement with the Black Cats.
If Sunderland stay in the Premier League, it seems possible that any team interested in Defoe will face just as difficult a task trying to land his signature, but it is looking increasingly likely that David Moyes’ men will not be playing in the top flight next year.
Following the defeat to Manchester City on Sunday, Sunderland are six points off safety with 11 games to go and the teams currently outside the bottom three all seem to have found form recently.
Falling into the Championship would surely make keeping Defoe practically impossible as he continues to show that he can make an impact at the highest level despite his advancing years – and it would be just as difficult to attract a fee befitting of his true value.
That would present West Ham with the perfect opportunity to get back in the running and perhaps hand Defoe the chance to continue to prove his doubters wrong.
Defoe’s arrival at the London Stadium would not appease supporters if he was the only striker signing the club makes in the summer – given their lack of options currently – but there is no question that his arrival would improve Slaven Bilic’s squad.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
He has scored 14 goals in all competitions this season for a team that has been battling at the bottom all year, while the Hammers’ highest scoring striker has just six goals to his name.
And despite his age, he arguably boasts a considerably better injury record than any of the Irons’ other forwards so may actually prove more reliable.
Defoe’s return to the club may not capture the imagination if it happens, but given his quality, West Ham simply have to reignite their interest this summer as a potential deal could prove to be one of the best bargains they have bagged for years.
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