Jermain Defoe tells West Ham and Bournemouth he wants £6million plus £100,000-a-week to sign
Sunderland striker chased by Cherries and Hammers is looking for bumper signing on fee and £5m-a-year in wages
Sponsored by
JERMAIN DEFOE is demanding £100,000-a-week and a £6million signing on fee before he joins West Ham or Bournemouth.
Defoe is available on a free transfer from Sunderland following the club's relegation to the Championship this season.
The England striker had a clause in his contract allowing him to leave the Stadium of Light as a free agent should they drop out of the top flight, and that has been activated.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest football news, gossip and rumours
West Ham and Bournemouth are both keen to snap up the 34-year-old, who is still regarded as one of the most prolific strikers in England.
But it appears both clubs will have to dig deep to get their man with Defoe's camp believing his 15 goals in a struggling side this season show he should still command big money.
The claim Defoe is asking for £5m a year in wages, plus the huge signing on fee, before he decides what his next move will be.
And they also say his agents are looking for a £1m payment to help process any deal.
West Ham failed with a £6m bid to sign Defoe in the January transfer window, as Sunderland decided his goals would give them the best chance possible of avoiding the drop.
Most read in football
The Hammers are desperate to bring in quality attacking options this summer having seen their forward line struck down by injuries and poor form this season.
Diafra Sakho has spent most of the campaign injured while Andy Carroll has found it hard to stay fit for a lengthy period of time.
And Jonthan Calleri flopped in his first year in the Premier League, leaving the club in no doubt they need to reinforce their striking options over the close season.
Bournemouth have entered the race for Defoe late, believing he could flourish on the south coast in Eddie Howe's attacking team.
They are offering a £6m-a-year two-year deal in an effort to entice the striker to the club, although that doesn't include the signing on bonus the striker is believed to want.
The Cherries are also looking at the possibility of taking John Terry on a £100,000-a-week deal as he prepares to quit Chelsea this weekend.