West Ham finally look to be moving in the right direction under Manuel Pellegrini. Marko Arnautovic and Andriy Yarmolenko are looking like a quality pairing up front and results are starting to go their way. However, according to reliable West Ham twitter account, ExWHUEmployee, the club is in contact with Jermain Defoe over a move.
— ExWHUEmployee (@ExWHUEmployee) October 13, 2018
At the age of 36, it’s unlikely that Defoe has anything more than one year left in him. Back in his day the poaching talents of Defoe were quality and he was a man who would guarantee a lot of goals over the course of a season. The last time Defoe managed a return of over 20 goals was way back in the 2013/14 season when he played for both Tottenham and Toronto FC over the season.
However, Defoe is a face that the fans know and he knows the club well already. His experience would bring something to the dressing room and a move to The London Stadium would give Defoe a chance to improve his record of 29 goals in 94 appearances for The Hammers that he managed during his 1999 and 2004 before he made the move to Tottenham Hotspur, the club he’s best remembered for being at.
You can read The Irons’ thoughts on Defoe here:
Why would we want a player who handed in a transfer request the day after we were relegated? He can’t get in Bournemouth’s side so why should he be able to get into ours?
— Miriam West (@mimwalker) October 13, 2018
I like Defoe. Always have. But the days of players getting a last paycheck with us should be behind us.
— Peter Storm (@djpeterstorm) October 13, 2018
May have been interested 3-4 years ago he can’t even get in the Bournemouth team
— Lee Clifton (@LeeRiver33) October 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/puffa_the_gen/status/1051403141349068800
Giving him a wage after he handed in a transfer request…. And at 36…. We must be mad. Well past his best and I'm sure we could get someone else. Why go backwards.
— Robby75 (@Robby7512) October 14, 2018
Great in his day. Fail to see why we would want him now? Does he fit into the system?
— JB (@1MrLondon) October 14, 2018
I am sorry but surely he is too old, even with his skill and surely we don’t want to keep bringing in older players plus I don’t even want to think about how much he would want sorry the money is better spent elsewhere for me!
— Laura Nagle (@LauraNagle85) 13 October 2018
The Hammers would be keen to see their club take a pass on Defoe as they’d much rather see the money going towards a younger and better option.
