Previous hate figure linked with return

West Ham want to bring Jermain Defoe back and are plotting a £6million bid for the Sunderland striker, according to reports.

Now 34, the forward continues put them away and has scored eight goals already this season. According to a report in the Sun newspaper, Bilic hopes Defoe will be tempted back for one last stint at his former club.

Defoe grew up in Stratford and began his career at the Hammers in 1999 and was adored by the Hammers faithful until he asked for a transfer less than 24 hours after they went down in 2003 later joining Spurs.

But he previously admited: “It was a massive mistake. I didn’t really want to do it. We’re talking about leaving the club I was in love with at the time because I came through the youth system with my friends, the fans loved me there. They were brilliant – every game they sang my name. The person who represented me at the time said, ‘You need to hand in a transfer request and get in early because all the lads are going to leave.’

“I remember going in and I was so nervous. It was (then Hammers chief executive) Paul Aldridge and I gave him the letter and he said, ‘What’s this?’ And I said, ‘It’s a transfer request’. And he looked at me as if to say, ‘Are you kidding?’ “The backlash was crazy. I felt like I was on my own and people were absolutely abusing me.

“To this day I can imagine West Ham fans look at me and think, ‘Who does he think he is? How can you do that? You’re a Judas’. And it’s quite sad really because I can honestly say I still love that club.”