Newcastle United look set to replace Sunderland in next season’s Premier League.
Arsenal’s Perry Groves in action (right)
Talksport pundit Perry Groves believes Jermain Defoe would quit Sunderland for Newcastle United ‘in a heartbeat’.
Defoe’s 14 goals have been one of the few bright sparks in a dismal campaign for the relegation-threatened Mackems, who can be put out of their misery by Bournemouth at the weekend.
It’s less than a year since Sunderland inflicted the same fate on arch rivals Newcastle, although the Magpies secured their top flight return earlier this week.
And according to Groves, the former Arsenal winger, Newcastle could make things even worse still for David Moyes’ side.
“I know they say ‘Sunderland to Newcastle, would Jermain Defoe go? His loyalty is to Sunderland…’ He’d go in a heartbeat,” the 52-year-old said.
Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe celebrates
“Imagine Jermain Defoe going to Newcastle, wearing the number 9 shirt and scoring them 15-20 goals which guarantees them staying (up)… you’re on statue proportions aren’t you?”
Newcastle’s Jack Colback was the last player to transfer directly between the two clubs after seeing out his Sunderland contract in 2014.
Newcastle’s former Sunderland man Jack Colback gestures
And while Defoe is not a free agent this summer, recent reports claim the 34-year-old could still leave the Stadium of Light for nothing due to a clause in his deal.
Defoe has been strongly linked with a return to first club West Ham United, although Newcastle (8/1) are currently listed as fourth favourites to land the England international with bookmakers Bet Victor.
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