Slaven Bilic may be preparing to push the Hammers board all the way in an attempt to bring Jermain Defoe back to the club.
Bilic revealed yesterday that he has a few midfielders telling him the former Hammers striker’s movement is the best they have played with.
And their urgings at this stage of the season that the 34 year old is an ideal player to sign could ensure that the manager piles the pressure on the board.
As ClaretandHugh has reported, Defoe has a contract which allows him to walk away on a free should Sunderland be relegated.
But he would also love a Hammers return and this may be his last chance as the club will be looking longer term in the summer.
Should the Irons board make a serious push for the player, then Sunderland look set for a difficult January as other clubs are also looking in Defoe’s direction.
However, there is little doubt that the prolific former England international would be ready to snub them in order to return to the club which set him on the road to greatness.
Sunderland boss David Moyes said: “I have not heard one word from any club regarding interest in any of my players. “I would expect I would have heard something and I have not. As far as I am concerned it is not the case.”
However, it is not necessarily the case that he would have been alerted to talks as any conversations going on would almost certainly have been held between agents at this stage.
I can’t imagine a queue outside Slavs door and they all say get Jermaine back,Nobes was a kid the only player who was around then was ginge.Not sure they played together.
The only way I can see this happening is if Slav asked the defenders who is the best,forward they have come across, that we can afford.COYI
Ginge was bought summer 2005 and is not a midfielder and Baddow is correct about Nobles having a minimal overlap when Defoe left in January 2004.Whether Defoe has the movement he had 13 years ago is also a moot point.
The article’s claim seems unlikely as our midfielders have not played with Defoe but he is a decent short term option.
Bilic said he had midfielders from around europe praising Defoe.I should imagine with his Croatian links he could have been referring to the likes of Modric & Kranjaer for example who played with him at spuds.
You are right Big Tone, he has said it numerous times in interviews quoting Kranjaer and probably Modric also has told him, anyway everyone knows he is a consumate goal scorer, we should have signed him back numerous times but didn’t because a number of fans don’t like him. Imho you can’t let the tail wag the dog you have to do what is best for the club. I still don’t see Sunderland selling him before the end of the season he is their best chance of staying in the division, it is tough enough to attract a striker to a successful club let alone a struggling one like Sunderland are presently.
Ah ok WHF32.I hadnt seen the previous references to Kranjaer,i was just taking a punt it might have been him amongst others.
I am bemused & baffled by our fans who dont see him as a top striker,even now.Sometimes i wonder if they actually watch football other than us.
WHY??? 34 years of age with a looming expiry date.Not for me under any circumstances.This is something BFS would try to manipulate.
Because he scores for fun
Defoe made Noble cry on the pitch when he scored the winner at Upton Park. We all thought we were relegated but we made a great escape thanks to Sheffield United blowing it. Noble wants defoe back so that he can kick the crap out of him in training 🙂
Defoe is a proven goal scorer despite his best days being behind him and is Sunderland’s only chance of avoiding relegation so why would they let him go for a fee that would be insufficient a sum for them to secure an even better goal scorer? They may well lose him for nothing if relegated but I’m sure Sunderland would rather take that chance than to concede themselves to relegation for a paltry £6m.