West Ham supporters have been pretty downbeat in recent times after seeing their side suffer defeat in their final match before the current two-week break for internationals.

Manuel Pellegrini’s men had been embarking on a fine run of form prior to their visit to Brighton back on October 5, beating Everton and Manchester United alongside drawing with Chelsea in their three preceding matches. Yet the Hammers were unable to preserve their unbeaten run heading into the second international break of the season as a Glenn Murray goal midway through the first half sealed a 1-0 success for Chris Hughton’s Seagulls, thus condemning West Ham to a fifth Premier League defeat of the season.

Thus, there have been many disappointed Hammers fans up and down the country in recent times, several of whom have taken to Twitter in recent times to respond to the rumours linking Jermain Defoe with a return to the club, with many hoping their club opt against re-signing the striker.

But such has been the predatory instincts shown by the 36-year-old over the years, alongside the Hammers’ flagging striking ranks, those West Ham fans are wrong as a controversial move, given the way he left the club back in 2004, could actually prove to be a masterstroke.

Ultimately, Defoe didn’t particularly endear himself to Hammers supporters when he left the club 14 years ago to join Tottenham, with the striker handing in a transfer request not long after their relegation from the Premier League, as well as refusing to sign a new contract alongside three red cards in the first half of the 2003/04 season.

And West Ham fans haven’t forgotten about that in giving Defoe a bad reception whenever he has played against the Hammers in years gone by, but it’s clear that the 36-year-old would add a great deal of further attacking quality to the West Ham ranks were he to make the move to the London Stadium.

The Englishman has been a prolific goal-scorer throughout his career in netting 163 goals in 494 appearances in the Premier League, scoring bags of goals for Tottenham, Portsmouth, and more recently Sunderland, alongside his fine start to life in senior football at West Ham.

And while things aren’t quite working out for Defoe at Bournemouth, having made just two Premier League appearances this term so far, one doesn’t lose those predatory instincts in the penalty area - he could still play a key part in the English top-flight.

And given Pellegrini isn’t blessed with too many options in the forward ranks, what with Lucas Perez having yet to bag in the Premier League since his summer arrival, and Javier Hernandez struggling to convince of his capabilities, adding Defoe would bolster that department.

Thus, while it would be something of a controversial move given the circumstances in which he left West Ham, it’s one Pellegrini should seek to make to seriously strengthen his striking department - it could prove to be something of a masterstroke were Defoe to produce the goods once again, like he has done throughout his career.

West Ham fans… what do you think? Let us know!