Jermain Defoe can leave Sunderland on a free transfer if they are relegated - but where might he go?
The veteran striker is determined to keep his place in Gareth Southgate's England team and may decide to leave Sunderland on a free transfer if they are relegated this summer
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.England striker Jermain Defoe will be able to leave Sunderland on a free transfer if the club are relegated from the Premier League, reports suggest.
Sunderland have endured another difficult Premier League campaign and are currently rooted to the foot of the table, seven points adrift of safety.
But Defoe – who joined the club three years ago from MLS side Toronto FC – has been in outstanding form, hitting 14 goals in just 28 Premier League appearances. No player in the top five divisions across England, France, Germany, Italy or Spain has had a hand in a higher share of their team’s goals this season.
So good has his recent form been that Gareth Southgate handed Defoe his first international cap in over three years in the World Cup qualification match against Lithuania. It took Defoe just 20 minutes to open the scoring, in a game England won 2-0.
However it has now emerged that Sunderland risk losing their most influential player for free this summer if they are unsuccessful in their battle against the drop.
The Daily Mail report that there is a clause in the 34-year-old’s contract stipulating he can move away from the club on a free transfer should they finish in the bottom three.
Should Sunderland be relegated Defoe will likely think it necessary to leave the club and sign for a top-flight team. After England’s match against Lithuania, he said he had been encouraged by comments made by Southgate about his chances of playing at the 2018 World Cup.
Defoe will surely not want to jeopardise that chance by playing his club football in the Championship next season.
But which clubs will be leading the race to sign the veteran striker?
We profile the teams most likely to sign Defoe this summer.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments