Jermain Defoe could leave Sunderland if the Black Cats are relegated this season. The likes of West Ham, Watford and Crystal Palace may all be vying for his signature.
Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe
Sitting rock bottom in the Premier League, Sunderland are facing a grim battle for survival. If anybody can rescue them from the mire – surely, it has to be Jermain Defoe.
Like fine wine, the former Tottenham Hotspur striker is getting better with age. At 34, he is still going strong, and has scored 14 goals for the Black Cats this season.
The question is how long can Sunderland keep him at the club? What if they get relegated? Defoe has made it clear that he will move to a Premier League club, should Sunderland get demoted to the Championship.
“You have to be realistic, to get into any squad is based on merit and to do that you have to be playing at the top level,” said Defoe, as quoted by The Sun when discussing his England chances.
“So, yeah, I would say you would need to be playing in the Premier League but we’ll see what happens.
Considering his age and his contract (his current deal expires in 2019), let us consider which clubs might be interested in signing Defoe.
West Ham
The Hammers are interested in signing him in the summer, according to reports from The Sun. Slaven Bilic will be looking to sign a top striker, and may look to add Defoe to his ranks. He was the subject of a bid to return to his breakthrough club in January, which was rejected, as reported by Sky Sports, but West Ham can return again with a better offer.
Defoe had handed in a transfer request on the day the Hammers got relegated in 2004. He could be looking to right that wrong, if given an opportunity.
Crystal Palace
Another club who reportedly, as per The Sun, showed an interest in Defoe during the January transfer window, but Sunderland weren’t keen to sell.
Defoe played a key role in Sunderland’s survival last season under Sam Allardyce, and the duo could be re-united again in a few months’ time.
Watford
Watford are heavily reliant on Troy Deeney, and they need a solid back up striker. Walter Mazzarri will be looking to make incursions in the transfer market, but he could do no wrong by signing an experienced striker in Defoe.
With the club yet to replace Odion Ighalo’s goals from last season, they could be another London option for the the 34-year-old.
Other options
Could Arsenal be interested? If Alexis Sanchez leaves the club, Arsene Wenger may look to sign a player with a proven goal scoring record, despite his Tottenham connections. Newly promoted clubs could also try their luck at signing him. Defoe may also opt to stay with Sunderland, provided they avoid the drop.
One thing is pretty clear – the England international will not be short of options. It is up to Defoe to make the right choice.
Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe
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