The Premier League is host to some of the best young talents in world football at the moment but it also has a number of players at the fag end of their career, playing and proving themselves at the highest level. One such player who is rolling back the years currently at the Stadium of Light is English international, Jermain Defoe.
Having earned a call-up to his National side(where he also picked up a goal) with a 14 goal season so far, Defoe is one of the most prolific goal scorers in England even now but at 34, he is not going to play for too long. His returns for a relegation threatened Sunderland show that he still has it in him but he may not be leading the line, come the start of the next season.
The Black Cats are close to relegation and may lose Defoe at the end of the season and there will be no shortage of clubs that will be ready to snatch him up. So which of the English clubs should scout for him? Here are two Premier League clubs that should surely make a move for this 34-year old this summer:
Tottenham Hotspur:
Having enjoyed his best ever spells as a footballer at the White Hart Lane over the years, Defoe has made more than 250 appearances for the Lilywhites in his career. He has netted 91 goals in around 270 appearances for the club and stands as one of the most prolific goal scorers in the history of the club.
His last return to the Lane ended in a season with just two appearances but he is back with a bang this season and the Spurs will want him back yet again. English international Harry Kane is the first choice striker for Pochettino this season but he has very little quality replacements in the first team. Vincent Janssen and Heung-Min Son have both played in this role to no great effect and the manager is now looking for attacking additions this summer.
Defoe, at 34, can more than just act as a backup as he can help relieve the stress on Kane and help his side by adding some goals. Surely, Spurs should make a move for the 34-year old this summer.
West Ham United:
Defoe’s first senior club, West Ham United, are also in the market for a striker and he could be the perfect option for them after all these years. In his 93 appearances for the Hammers in his four-year spell at the club, Defoe scored 29 goals, earning some great praise for his game. He never returned to the Boleyn ground once he left back in 2004 but it might be time for his homecoming.
Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho, and Andre Ayew is not an overly impressive attacking line and Slaven Bilic will know that he needs to add some quality to his attack to compete with the best. He might want someone more dynamic but Defoe’s consistent ability to score goals will surely attract him.
As already said, Defoe will only be a backup at his new club and West Ham, who might yet spend on another striker can have the 34-year old as a weapon late in games. The Hammers need someone who can change the course of a game on its head and Defoe could be the man next season.
