West Ham pulls out of striker race

West Ham have pulled out of the race to sign former Hammer Jermain Defoe according to the Daily Telegraph. They claim Defoe is on the verge of signing for Bournemouth on a free transfer after West Ham turned their striker attention elsewhere.

Defoe, who did not play in Sunderland’s final game of the season against Chelsea, had a clause in his contract that enabled him to leave for nothing after the Black Cat’s relegation to the Championship.

Despite earlier paper reports of demands of £100,000 per week and a £6m signing on fee Defoe is said to want to match his wages at Sunderland, where he was paid around £70,000 a week.  He will almost certainly demand a seven figure signing on fee together with huge agents fees which are normal on free transfers.