ContinueSunderland are planning an audacious move for Tottenham Hotspur’s Jermain Defoe over the next few days, regional reports suggest.
Martin O’Neill’s attempts to prise Scottish striker Steven Fletcher from recently relegated Wolves have been met with dismay, as the Championship side look to hold out for a £20 million deal that includes a series of add on’s and bonuses. According to Tynside-based regional The Journal, O’Neill has no intention of making an offer of that price for Fletcher, and will now aim to push through a move for the Tottenham striker before their season opener against Arsenal.
Despite Tottenham’s shortage of forwards, manager Andre Villas-Boas does not hold long-term plans for the 29-year-old, and is himself actively pursuing a number of forwards before the start of the Premier League season with Brazil’s Leandro Damiao and Emmanuel Adebayor still linked with a move to White Hart Lane.
Journal suggest that the Sunderland manager will now turn to Defoe, a Premier League proven goal scorer, who netted 17 goals in 38 appearances for Harry Redknapp last season, eleven of which came in his mere eleven starts for the northern London club.
It is also suggested that the O’Neill is looking to bring Ireland’s Aiden McGeady back to British football in a bid to strengthen his attacking options. However, as has been the case with the Black Cats’ talks over Steven Fletcher, McGeady’s club Spartak Moscow’s valuation of the player does not meet Sunderland’s assessment of the 25-year-old winger.
