Harry Redknapp reckons Jermain Defoe is “built for football” and insists that he would still sign the Sunderland striker to any Premier League club he managed despite his age of 34.

The former Hammers boss reckons the Hammers are spot on in targeting the Sunderland and England striker as a summer signing.

And he said: “If I was a manager in the Premier League next year — which I doubt I’m going to be by the way — then you would take Jermain all day long.

“I’ve known him since he was a young boy. He is a totally dedicated professional and easy to manage. He is not a drinker, he looks after himself and always trains fantastically well. He is built for football, really.”

The Hammers have regularly made it clear to ClaretandHugh that the former player could be a very live target in the summer.”