da betcris： Whilst Sunderland manager David Moyes has publicly stated that his top goalscorer Jermain Defoe is not for sale during the January transfer window, the 33-year-old continues to be linked with a move away from the Stadium of Light this month.
da doce： The attacker’s former club West Ham United have already had a £6m offer rejected for the marksman – who has scored eleven Premier League goals this season to keep the Black Cats in with a chance of survival – and it is unclear whether the Irons will come back with an increased offer before the window slams shut.
If the Wearside outfit did receive an offer they couldn’t refuse for the 33-year-old, Moyes would be under pressure to find a replacement that would provide the goal threat and finishing ability that Defoe has in his locker in order to lead the club away from the relegation places that they have been in and around all season, and to safety.
Here are FIVE potential players that he could sign this month to replace his veteran striker…
Shane Long
The Republic of Ireland international is known to be a pest for defenders and seems to never stop running, but Sunderland fans may doubt whether he has the goals in him to replace Defoe.
Based on this season’s return – Long has scored just once in 15 Premier League appearances for Southampton – they may well be right, but the 29-year-old enjoyed his best ever campaign in the top flight last year, netting ten goals in 28 league games to show he does have the potential to put the ball in the back of the net.
Finding first team football hard to come by under Claude Puel at St Mary’s Stadium this term, this could be a move that would work for both parties.
Wilfried Bony
Stoke City supporters would have been excited when they signed Bony on a season-long loan deal from Manchester City during the summer – especially with the form he showed for previous club Swansea – but it has turned out to be a bit of a nightmare for both parties.
The Ivory Coast international, who is currently representing his country at the Africa Cup of Nations, has scored two goals in eleven appearances for the Potters this term and has generally struggled to impress in attack for Mark Hughes’ side, meaning he has often found himself on the substitutes’ bench.
You still get a feeling that Bony will get it right at another club, though, and if Sunderland were to make an offer for the 28-year-old, Stoke surely would be ready to end the loan move early.
Saido Berahino
The West Brom striker has been linked with a move away from The Hawthorns in the last couple of transfer windows, but it could finally happen this month.
The out-of-favour attacker has made just five appearances in all competitions this season and been made to undergo extra training by manager Tony Pulis in order to regain some fitness.
The 23-year-old’s contract runs out next summer and he could be available for a reduced fee, and would certainly be something of a like-for-like replacement for Defoe as he is known for his finishing ability in the penalty area.
Bojan
Like team-mate Wilfried Bony, the Spaniard hasn’t spent as much time on the pitch for Stoke City as he would have liked this term, and he could look for a move away from the Britannia Stadium in January to gain some more regular football.
Halfway through the campaign, you would imagine that the former Barcelona man would want to stay in the Premier League, and he could be tempted by the potential of being Sunderland’s main man over the course of the rest of the season.
Bojan has also been linked with an £8m move to the Black Cats’ North East rivals Middlesbrough, but at that price, David Moyes would be made not to be interested too.
Andre Gray
After scoring 23 goals in 41 appearances for Burnley last season and helping them to reach the Premier League, Clarets supporters were hopeful that he could carry that form into the top flight, and the 25-year-old hasn’t done too bad so far.
The striker has netted five Premier League goals – including a hat-trick in the 4-1 win over David Moyes’ Sunderland on New Year’s Eve, which is sure to have caught the eye of the Scottish manager.
Like Defoe, Gray has that pace and finishing ability to his game as he proved against the Mackems last month, and he could be the perfect replacement for the 33-year-old.