Report: West Ham to lodge £6m bid for proven PL scorer, youngster could move in part-exchange
By Dominic Toner
West Ham are interested in signing Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe, according to a report.
The Sun claim that the Hammers are prepared to offer £6million for the 34-year-old as they try to solve their forward issues.
The report details that West Ham youngster Ashley Fletcher could be offered to Sunderland in part-exchange plus money for Defoe, but Leeds are also interested in the 21-year-old striker.
Slaven Bilic’s side are currently 13th-placed in the Premier League table and are enduring a difficult season.
The Londoners have struggled in front of goal this term and have had long-term injuries to the likes of Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho already, while loan singings Simone Zaza and Jonathan Calleri have flopped.
Sunderland forward Defoe could be the player to solve Bilic’s forward woes and he is a proven scorer in the top flight.
The Englishman is regarded as the star player at the Black Cats and has scored 30 goals in 71 appearances for them.
He also enjoyed a prolific career at Tottenham, scoring 138 goals in 357 appearances across all competitions.
Defoe started his senior career at West Ham in 1999 and could be in line to make a remarkable return.
Fletcher is at the beginning of his career and only completed a move to the Hammers in the summer transfer window.
The young forward has made 13 appearances across all competitions, but is very much on the fringes of the squad.
Football Insider verdict:
West Ham desperately need a proven scorer to help them climb the table and Jermain Defoe could be a good short-term answer. The Hammers have not been clinical in attack this season and Defoe would certainly add some extra firepower to their squad. However, the 34-year-old can’t be seen as a good option going forward despite still playing at a top level with Sunderland. He is currently the star player at the Stadium of Light and helped them avoid relegation last campaign. West Ham manager Slaven Bilic does need a quick turnaround in results and Defoe could be the player to save the club’s season.
In other West Ham transfer news, the club have made an approach for a Manchester United player.