Morning reports that Sam Allardyce has joined the chase for Jermain Defoe are unlikely to cause any headaches to Slaven Bilic.
The Irons boss has been an admirer of the Sunderland striker but he is no longer a priority signing for the club who watched his goal scoring form tail off towards the end of the current campaign.
And his reported demands of £115k a week plus a £6 million signing on fee has ensured the hammers will be looking in various other directions.
That will leave Palace and Bournemouth to fight it out for the 35-year-old with the Selhurst Park board believing Allardyce’s relationship with him from Sunderland days can tip things in their favour.
The South Londoners are believed to have matched Bournemouth’s offer.
If correct that Defoe is ‘no longer’ a priority target (implying that he was at some point) why is this? Looks as if our transfer strategy is based on ‘form not class’. Defoe has hardly missed a game in two years. 18 last season 15 this- in a poor team. I think everybody is agreed this is the area we have to improve. I know his age is an issue, & I can see that he would be a big risk if he is the ONLY striker brought in. But to just step back because his form dipped in the last two months? Doesn’t make sense to me..if this is the true situation.
I would think it is more his wage demands that are the issue H64, who knows these days with so much fake news around but if he wanted a £6m signing on fee and £115k a week then he is a definite non-starter, yes he will score goals and would have been good but not at that price. I am surprised if it is true that Bournemouth could afford those wages so I think it may be more fake news. Speaking of Bournemouth I am surprised we don’t take a look at Josh King who has had a very good season and would give us pace, physicality and goals.
There has been speculation that both we and Spurs are interested in him.He said he was happy at Bournemouth a few days ago for what thats worth.
All the figures in the press being bandied about really should be taken with a big pinch of salt i think.
Yes fair point No 32. That £6m would be a bit of a downer for sure. If it is not fake news you do wonder who would pay that for a 34 year old.
Someone will because his goals could be the difference between four or five places in the league.The positional cash available covers that and then some.
If we get say 10m for Valencia we can pay 6m for Defoe! For that we get a striker who whilst at the end of his career, offers at least 10 goals next year, more probably, with the payback that a higher league place will entail.
We can pay more and take gamble but anyone who scores regularly for us will undoubtably be attracted to/ by a bigger club.
Tony gale, who knows a fair bit about marking strikers,was very positive about Defoe in the recent Arsenal game. I think we should get him- no brainer
Totally agree with you & Mick that if he scores goals we end up further up the table through them & it will be funded by that.
At rhe end of the day the pundite & ex players know the score with him,they know he is still a top striker who will continue to score for whichever club he goes to.
He might be 34 but he has still started in all 37 Prem matches this season.A forward who never gets injured,i have forgotten what one of them is 😂
And scores goals…We had one once-years ago. Name began with a D. Give me time. It’ll come to me….
Lol well while your think about it get ready for another break out of youth player hysteria on the Oxford,Quina article.I think i will get back to laying some bricks before it all kicks off 😂😂
Cheeky little ask about Nolito? Must be gagging for a regular game.
Yeah mooro a couple of the other fellas said the same thing on here this week.I would certainly take him at the right price..