Sunderland have rejected a £6million bid from West Ham for former England international Jermain Defoe, Sky Sports have confirmed.
Hammers boss Slaven Bilic is keen to add to his attacking options this window with Simone Zaza expected to return to Italy and Jonathan Calleri expected to follow him out the exit door.
Defoe, currently Sunderland’s top scorer with eleven goals in 20 league appearances, joins a long list of strikers linked with a move to the Olympic Stadium, but is among the most wanted by the West Ham fans.
At the age of 34, there would certainly be no future sell on value to the West Ham owners, hence why they are keen to negotiate down from Sunderland’s £10million asking price, but Defoe would be a useful addition to Bilic’s misfiring frontmen.
Seven players have played centre forward for West Ham this season who have combined for a total of five goals in 21 appearances.
Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol confirmed, via Twitter, West Ham have told Sunderland to ‘name their price’ and are determined to bring back Defoe.
West Ham are determined to bring back Defoe and have told Sunderland to 'name their price'. [Sky Sports] #whufc pic.twitter.com/MNyWuuYdSu
— Read West Ham (@ReadWestHam) January 4, 2017
