Irons unfazed by Palace joining chase

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.