EXCLUSIVE
ClaretandHugh can confirm there has been definite contact between West Ham and Sunderland as the Irons move in on their prime target – Jermain Defoe.
Reports arose early this afternoon that the Hammers have told the Black Cats to name their price for the 34 year old hitman who left the club in 2004…and they are true.
CandH sources have admitted that is in fact the case as Slaven Bilic piles the pressure on the board to bring the former England man back to the club.
However, we were warned that the price inquiry doesn’t necessarily mean the Hammers are ready to meet the valuation with our top insider saying: “Yes we have asked for their price but that doesn’t mean we will pay it.
“We are serious about trying to bring Jermain back to the club and he is the manager’s number one target so we are doing everything possible to support him. We want it to happen.”
Defoe has scored 11 times in 21 appearances for Sunderland and the Hammers are keen to get him on a deal until the season and offer a further year or possibly even two given the player’s level of fitness.
ClaretandHugh understands too that Defoe is keen to return to the Irons which could cause an additional problem for Sunderland in their bid to hold on to him.
I cannot believe some of the comments on here. I’ve been a season ticket holder for 30+ years and Defoe is no different to any other player in our squad today. They all want to earn as much money as possible and loyalty towards a clubs badge is a thing of the past with the exception of Mark Noble. Does anyone honestly believe that Payet, Lanzini, Sakho, Kouyate etc don’t want Champions League football? The reality is every player wants to earn more money and play in the best team possible……that’s life and Defoe is no different.
Exactly.Some of the comments about Defoe are silly in the extreme.Not only on this site though may i say.
Its all so so childish all over a football player.Do fans really believe by calling him Judas or saying the will never forgive a kid leaving a football club more than a decade ago it makes them sound more loyal to West Ham.If they do they need their lumps felt.
Lol Calm yourselves lads,you are probably fighting over nothing if Sunderland keep him 😁
So some of you seem to be saying if we sign Defoe you will boo him. Oh my god is it any wonder West Ham fans are losing respect if it’s not endless bellyaching about the Stadium or how the evil David’s are trying to steal our children now we are going to boo our own players even before they have played. The Defoe saga was years ago get over it players these days are just employees and employees move on.
don’t go anywhere near this has been, 34 and waiting for one last pay day then injuries set in. Scott Hogan is young hungry and is the future not the past, we are supposed to be building not going for a quick cheap option, if Defoe was any good he would already be playing for a top team, avoid this judas
IronMan etc we know you have never done anything wrong in your lives and have upset nobody in your lifetime of living. With your outstanding 100% perfect life you can educate many players on perfection of life. University of Perfection. Brooking didn’t have an agent in his playing days encouraging him to desert us in the name of money.
Lmao tony.Some fans are idiots.Now if they had been the parents of the two girls killed in the hit & run in Oldham they might have a reason to ‘Never forgive or forget’,but over a footballer leaving a football club.They need to get a life.
Tony, it’s not about me. I never said that I was perfect, I just said he wasn’t… and far from it. Also, I’m the fan, not the footballer. Whatever way you dress it up, he is a weasel. Pedro Obiang has an agent. Until you have evidence to contrary, why assume he has no integrity? Surely you give them the benefit of teh doubt until they prove youwrong? Defoe showed us his true colours. You are saying ‘they are all the same’ I say not. And there is a massive differnce between Brooking & Defoe, between Gentleman, John Lyall and Alardyce. If you can’t tell the difference, that is your problem.
Ffs you are talking about someone who was 22 years old.12 years ago.It is generally accepted he was ill advised.
Cottee was saying yesterday that it was known at the club at the time his agent was pulling all the strings.
Go have a long holiday to get over yourself.
Oh some of you crease me up.It was only in the summer punters were calling for his inclusion in the England Squad.The age arguement is ridiculous,i bet a pound to a pinch of sh£t he is still scoring goals in the Premier in two or three seasons time if he wants to carry on himself.
yea because he is really putting the points on the board and getting Sunderland out of trouble. look at his stats and the wins and the points he has got Sunderland. he’s just on a big contract there, until USA or China calls again
You plank since the start of last season he has scored 26 goals.5th in the scoring charts behind the likes of Aguero,Vardy,Lukaku.Ffs some of you do talk some BS.
read the post i said look at his stats it doesnt matter how many goals he scores in a 3-1 defeat , there isn’t anyone else who’s going to score for sunderland his goals are worthless. they dont win them hardly any points. he is a goal hanger/poacher never passes greedy not a team player will be hated. and the recent 15m price tag is a joke for a 34 yr old. stats little fella
Will be hated.You do a lot of speaking for the masses it seems.You mean he will be hated like Sunderland fans hate him.You do talk some rubbish.
Signing any 34 year old is not a good idea. Sign younger players from lower divisions better.
Defoe is not a fans favourite.
his goals will bring an instant lift at the LS. we seem to be able to create the chances but don’t finish them off. The higher we finish the better the player we will be able to attract in the summer.
All modern day footballers are mercenaries, there is no such thing as loyalty anymore.
At the end of the day its out of our hands & one thing i learnt during the Hippo Head days is that arguing with each other is pointless 😉
Even if Sleepinwiththefishes cant let it go i once wanted Bielsa as manager.Just let it go Fishes 😁😁
Yes exactly. And even if there were some young ones in the frame eg from lower leagues, they are a massive risk. The club has to secure its position now. It is ridiculous with the money that has been available and after 4 solid seasons in the PL that we are scrabbling about going on our knees for a 34 yr old striker. So I really hope there is some hard long term thinking even if we survive this year.
Regarding Defoe each to his own opinion. I think there is more in life to worry about than taking offence and bearing grudges, so Allardyce’s hand to ear and Defoe’s insult pass me by completely. Defoe has averaged a goal every two games throughout his career. I am more concerned that he will come and immediately do his knee in and never play again. As for booing him- no. You have every right not to accept him but never boo your own players.
…but he would never be ‘one of our own’ players. He had that chance and forfeited it. If it was just about results and cheering mercenaries we’d all support the Harlem Globe Trotters at Chelski, Manure or Citeh. The players, the club can over step the mark and at times we have the right to say ‘No’, even though we love The Irons dearly. I love West Ham, but defend the Bond Scheme? No. Defend Defoe? Again, no.
So who are the better so called younger strikers that are available for us to buy exactly?
Why would we want a proven PL goalscorer when we coukd pay £15 million to Brentford for Scott Hogan & his knackered knee 😁
Scott Hogan, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwxYbzaqfFI
Lol number6 i have watched him many times,once at Griffin Park in the flesh & on Sky.I actually said i rated him on another piece the other day.I dont need to judge a player by using youtube.
I was just winding up a little about his knee.I do honestly like him 😁
Fair play Ironman you have your views but it seems to me that by slagging Defoe still it makes some fans belive it makes them more hardcore,dyed in the wool,we will never forgive Irons.Well actually it is bolloxs because you would rather hold a grudge than see the possibilty of signing a player who will improve the team you are so fanatical about.
Just my opinon of course 😁😁
I understand what you are saying radai but I do feel that there is a line that can be overstepped… and he overstepped it. Putting my non-fanatical, entirely practical head on he is old, not one for the future and we can do better. I’d rather see Fletcher or Samuelson any day.
Fair enough IronMan but i still think Defoe has a few years left in him & though i like Fletch a lot i would take Defoe everytime.
Maybe the club should say he is foreign,sign him for £15 million & fans will think he is going to be the bees bolloxs 😁😁
I’ve bit my tongue for so long on this one but surely all of us have not forgotten Defoe’s history? I haven’t forgiven Clive Thomas for allowing Liverpool’s offside goal when Sammy Lee ducked under the ball in the 1981 League Cup Final, let alone Keith (The Idiot) Hacket for ruining another Wembley dream. As for Defoe… That’s only yesterday. Have him pull on a West Ham shirt again? For me, no never. I will boo him from start to finish of any game, irrespective of what colour shirt he wears. We can not be that desperate that we abandon all priciples. No! Never! I do not want him, even if he brings goals. He is poison. It is insulting that the move has even been considered. I know that I am an old miserable, died-in-the-wool, grumpy, backward looking, dynosaur but I can’t be alone in this? Speak up. Jermain Defoe? Nein Danke!
Get over it mate.
3 goals in i bet you’ll have his name on the back of your shirt.
Danielson79,, no way, ever. Joking aside, we burried my brother in West Ham shirt. Insulting the fans like Alardyce, Ince, Reocoker, Defoe have done, there’s no way back. The fans ARE the club and we’ll be there long after they have trotted off to China/Russia/USA or were ever else they fancy. He could promise three hundred and thirty three goals: I still will not accept him in West Ham shirt.
Agreed. He burnt the bridge.
Is this also what we aspire to sign?? Seriously – there must be better options out there.
I agree completely Ironman, thought it was only me, i never forget players that betray our club for one reason, if it was good enough for Trevor Brooking to stay after relegation then it’s certainly good enough for Defoe, and no, i will never “get over it”…
Well if you cant ” get over it” i suggest you do some serious growing up.
How immature can you be.
lets not ponder on defoe for to long he is 34 and there are younger very good strikers out there
Surely we’re looking at Defoe AND Behrahino?! Come on Henry, sign em up! Pulis made some flattering comments about Slav last season, maybe there’s an inroad there (not to mention our mutual ‘appreciation for levy and the spuds)? Just thinking out loud, but if Defoe hands in a transfer request to make the move happen, would this go some way towards making up for his past behaviour? I know some fans haven’t forgiven him, but if he did that and scored plenty of goals, it would be water under the bridge for me…