Premier League club Sunderland have warned West Ham to give up their chase for Jermain Defoe.
Sunderland have confirmed that they will not sale their star striker in the January transfer window.
West Ham are eyeing a reunion with their former youth squad player and have seen two bids of £5million and £6m rejected by the Hammers. And now the Sunderland bosses have confirmed that Defoe is not for sale at any price.
West Ham are 13th in the Premier League table and now Slaven Bilic is keen on roping in a striker to bolster his attacking options.
The Hammers bosses are desperate to stay away from the relegation zone and Bilic now wants to pair Defoe with Andy Carroll up front.
Bilic said: “Jermain has the things that are the most important in a football games – that’s goals.”
“He scored them last season, maybe or probably the main reason they stayed up, and then he continues to do the same this season, scoring again.”
“A couple in the last game. In every game he is having chances and most of the chances he is converting them into goals. He is an excellent player of course.”
Foottheball sources now claim that the Hammers are now on brink of launching a third bid of around £7.5m for Defoe, as they believe that Sunderland are holding out as they are eyeing an improved offer.
West Ham have also seen a bid rejected for Brentford striker Scott Hogan and now they have also approached Celtic for talented striker Moussa Dembele.