Sam Allardyce has confirmed Crystal Palace will be interested in signing Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe this summer.
Defoe will leave Sunderland at the end of the season in order to salvage his dream of representing England at the 2018 World Cup in Russia after returning to favour under Gareth Southgate.
The 34-year-old has been one of few positives for Sunderland this season but his future is now certainly away from the Stadium of Light after David Moyes’ side became the first side to be relegated to the Championship last weekend.
Defoe’s existing deal isn’t due to expire until 2019 but he has a relegation clause that would allow him to leave Sunderland for a smaller fee and Allardyce is the first manager to declare an interest in the veteran striker.
“If we are safe and Jermain Defoe is available, and he wants to come to Crystal Palace, I would be interested,” the London Evening Standard quote Allardyce as saying. “Until that time, when we are safe, I can’t pursue that.
“When we are safe, someone else who is already safe may already have done it. Who knows?”
West Ham failed in their attempts to sign Defoe from Sunderland in January and are expected to rekindle their interest in their former striker at the end of the season to solve their own woes up front.
Defoe has scored 14 Premier League goals this season, 60.1% of the goals Sunderland have netted in the league. This is all the more remarkable when you consider Defoe hasn’t scored for Sunderland since, ironically, scoring two against Palace in February.
For more stats on Jeremain Defoe, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
