When we first heard the news that ex-Tottenham man, Jermain Defoe, might be on the move from MLS side Toronto, we thought that he might be a decent addition for Spurs once again.
A cheeky and relatively low cost move for the player might allow Tottenham to get rid of some of the deadwood upfront. Harry Kane is undoubtedly the number one striker at the club right now but players like Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor possibly need to be ushered out and replaced, in time, by fresh faces and Pochettino players.
The signing of Defoe would add proven class and numbers up top to facilitate a transfer of one of the aforementioned.
But when we heard that Sunderland were in for him, and could pay £14m for his services, our eyes nearly popped out. 14 million squid for a 32 year old who, despite his finishing ability, has always been an acquired taste and never someone who you could describe as a ‘complete’ forward.
The Express reckons:
JERMAIN DEFOE has agreed an astonishing £14million deal to return to the Premier League with Sunderland.
and The BBC says:
Toronto FC and England striker Jermain Defoe is having a medical with Sunderland before a proposed return to the Premier League.
He’s a good finisher but was never even that prolific at Tottenham – with 76 goals in 182 games he’s some way short of a one goal every two games marksman.
The fact that Sunderland are reportedly paying so much for him smacks of desperation. They need more goals and he will offer more quality up top. But we can’t help thinking that this signing resembles a drunken man splurging his last ton at the bookies having lost everything.
If he keeps them up then you might say that it made financial sense. But the age of the player means that this can only ever be a short term investment. He’ll be 33 in October and strikers, more than any other footballers, rely on their sharp instincts and pace.
It’s an amazing deal for Toronto and might save Sunderland – this season anyway – but Tottenham will be stunned at how a player they sold for around £6m could go, a year later, for a reported £14m.
