West Ham’s attempts to sign Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe have suffered a huge blow after the player has agreed terms with Bournemouth, according to Daily Mirror reporter James Nursey.
The journalist tweeted via his personal account that the 34-year-old “has agreed a three-year deal with Bournemouth worth £130,000-a-week”.
told that Jermain Defoe has agreed a three-year deal with Bournemouth worth £130k a week.
— James Nursey (@JamesNursey) May 23, 2017
The Telegraph reported that the Hammers made a bid for the 56-time England international in January, while the Sun claimed earlier this month that manager Slaven Bilic was keen to bring him to the London Stadium.
But it appears that Bournemouth are now in the driving seat to land Defoe.
During the early part of his career Defoe spent a year on loan at Bournemouth in the 2000/01 season, when he was on the books of West Ham.
The veteran front-man was a bright spark in the Black Cats’ dreadful season, which saw them relegated from the Premier League.
He finished the campaign as the club’s top scorer with 15 goals from 37 league appearances, but now appears to have agreed terms with Bournemouth, one of West Ham’s Premier League rivals.
Defoe has been prolific throughout his career which is highlighted by his record for the Three Lions, for whom he has 20 goals in 56 games.
During two separate spells at Tottenham he also scored 139 goals in 358 appearances during that time, as well as supplying 31 assists.