Sunderland boss David Moyes has hit out at the club’s board for adding a relegation release clause when extending his contract, and insists he would not have let it happen if he was at the club.
Sunderland manager David Moyes
The clause means that Sunderland will lose their talismanic striker on a free transfer at the end of the season. His exit has not been confirmed but Defoe has hinted that he will leave the Black Cats to improve his chances of retaining his place in the national set up.
Sunderland rejected a £6 million bid from West Ham in January for the 34-year-old (BBC Sport) and his contract situation at the Stadium of Light will not please Moyes.
Defoe, who was signed from MLS side Toronto FC in a swap deal with Jozy Altidore in 2015, has been a major hit in the North-East and scored 37 goals in 91 appearances for the club.
He arrived on a three-and-a-half year deal and was handed a contract extension just 12 months into it and this is when the clause was added. As a result, Moyes is resigned to losing his star man.
“There is a clause in his contract. In my time as manager, I would not have allowed a clause to be in there but it is and we have to honour the contract.” (Express)
Jermain Defoe looks set to leave on a free transfer at the end of the season
Defoe has scored 15 goals this season for the Black Cats but his efforts look to be vain as his side look set to finish bottom of the Premier League table.
Sunderland’s 2-0 home defeat to Swansea looks set to be his last final home game for the club but Moyes has not given up all hope of Defoe leading the Sunderland line in the Championship next season.
“We’ve needed his goals all year and I hope he stays.
“Everyone at the club wants him to stay and all the supporters want him to stay but it has to be Jermain’s decision.”
Jermain Defoe has scored 15 of Sunderland’s 28 league goals this season
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