West Ham transfer news: Hammers to offer £6m to bring back former star Jermain Defoe from Sunderland
Defoe started his career at West Ham in 1999 before leaving for Tottenham
WEST HAM are making a dramatic bid to bring back Jermain Defoe from Sunderland.
Hammers will offer around £6 million for the veteran marksman who started his career with the club.
Defoe, 34, is still Sunderland's key man but West Ham hope that owner Ellis Short will be tempted to sell and get his wages off the payroll.
Short is looking to find a buyer for the club and is cutting losses in other departments. So West Ham may be striking at the right time.
The former England striker could fancy going back home after his wandering career and also return to London where he has big ties.
He made his senior debut at West Ham in 1999 after being poached from Charlton's academy.
He scored 29 goals in 93 games and stuck with the club when they were relegated in 2003.
But he angered Hammers fans by refusing to sign a new contract and in January 2004 joined rivals Tottenham for an initial £6m, with Bobby Zamora moving in the opposite direction.
However, after a multi-million pound series of moves around the football world, he would be welcomed back as West Ham look to score more goals and shake up their attack.
Jermain Defoe's impressive career stats
West Ham (1999-2004) - Games 93, Goals 29
Bournemouth (Loan 2000-2001) - Games 29, Goals 18
Tottenham (2004-2008) - Games 139, Goals 43
Portsmouth (Loan 2008) - Games 1, Goals 1
Portsmouth (2008-2009) - Games 30, Goals 14
Tottenham (2009-2014) - Games 135, Goals 47
Toronto FC (2014) - Games 19, Goals 11
Tottenham (Loan 2014) - Games 2, Goals 1
Sunderland (2015-present) - Games 64, Goals 27
Loan signings Jonathan Calleri and Simone Zaza have both failed to find their feet at the club this season and the Hammers would love to be able to call on a forward as reliable as Defoe.
They are also in for Argentinian striker Lucas Pratto and hope to sort out a £12 million deal with Atletico Mineiro in Brazil.
Defoe has been in fantastic form since his move to Sunderland from Toronto FC in 2015.
He has hit 27 goals in 64 games and many fans last season were calling for him to be included in the England squad for Euro 2016.
Defoe and Pratto are believed to be the club's top targets this January as Diafra Sakho has broken down and Zaza can leave.
Young Ashley Fletcher is wanted by Leeds although he could even be offered to Sunderland in part exchange plus money for Defoe.