The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Jermain Defoe

  • Bournemouth to complete £20million Defoe deal Saturday

    Bournemouth to complete £20million Defoe deal Saturday

     

    Bournemouth are set to confirm the big-money signing of Jermain Defoe on Saturday.

    There have been suggestions that the Sunderland striker’s expensive financial package could prove a late obstacle to the deal, but Sportsmail understands the move will be wrapped up at the weekend.

    The England international, who turns 35 in October, will pocket £20m from the combination of his wages across a three-year deal and also a hefty signing-on fee.

    He confirmed on international duty earlier this month that he had already undertaken his medical at the club where he spent the 2000-01 season on loan from West Ham.

    Bournemouth will also complete a deal for out-of-contract winger Connor Mahoney, 20.

    The former England Under 18 international made 18 appearances for Blackburn Rovers last season and had been pursued by Nottingham Forest. As Mahoney is under the age of 24, Bournemouth must agree compensation with Blackburn.

    Eddie Howe remains keen to secure the return of Nathan Ake from Chelsea after he excelled at the club on loan in the first half of last season.

  • Defoe: I was never an Arsenal fan

    Defoe: I was never an Arsenal fan

     

     

    Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe has declared that  he never supported Arsenal when he was growing up but had soft spot for   legendary front man Ian Wright.

    The Sunderland marksman spent two spells with the Gunners’ arch rivals from 2004-08 and 2009-14, bagging a combined 143 goals in 363 appearances.

    But the England international – who celebrated his first Three Lions appearance since 2013 with a goal against Lithuania last month  quashed claims that he had grown up liking the Gunners, insisting he only ever had eyes for one man.

    Responding to readers’ One-on-One questions in the May 2017 issue of FourFourTwo Defoe said: “Was I a Gunner as a kid? Absolutely not! My local team was West Ham and I used to go and watch them play when I was younger. The Arsenal connection came from me saying that I loved watching Ian Wright, but I was not an Arsenal fan. I just loved Wrighty.”

    Arsene Wenger’s side as well as Manchester United  had been linked with a move for the speedster before he first signed for Spurs in February 2004.

    The 34-year-old explains, though, that while talk of joining his childhood hero’s team was exciting, he was more interested in the challenge at White Hart Lane.

    The Arsenal link was exciting because Ian Wright was my hero. Spurs was perfect because of their history of strikers. I wanted to get on that list, too “he added

  • Defoe named Player of the Year

    Defoe named Player of the Year

     

     

     

     

    Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe has picked up his award for the 2016 Player of the Year at the North East Football Writers Awards, while Jordan Pickford was named the Young Player of the Year.

    The annual event, which took place at Ramside Hall on Sunday evening in Durham, reflected on the stand-out contribution of Defoe to Sunderland’s quest to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

    Defoe was present to pick up his trophy, alongside team-mate Pickford – whose outstanding performances for the Wearsiders led to him receiving his first England call-up under Gareth Southgate at the end of last year.

    Defoe said: ‘My mum keeps asking me, “How long are you going to play for? When are you going to do your coaching badges?”

    ‘I don’t know to be honest, I just take each day as it comes. Even my friends in football… I ask Ian Wright and Rio Ferdinand, “Do you miss it?” And they miss not just the training and the games, but just being around the lads in the changing rooms.

    ‘I’ve always said it’s important that players can play for as long as they can. That’s why I’ve always looked after myself.’

    Pickford, whose stock has risen despite Sunderland’s troubled campaign, has been forced to watch on since the end of the year owing to a knee injury, but the perennial strugglers will soon be boosted by his return.

    After the Premier League’s bottom side were soundly beaten 4-0 at home to Southampton on Saturday, he will hope to fully recover from his set-back at the earliest opportunity.

    The goalkeeper picked up his award from Sunderland legend Jimmy Montgomery, while Defoe joins a host of players to have won the top prize having worn the red and white-striped shirt.

  • Terminally ill Sunderland fan gets heroes visit

    Terminally ill Sunderland fan gets heroes visit

     

     

    Young Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery fell asleep cuddling Jermain Defoe as the club continue to support the cancer-stricken kid.

    Bradley, 5, suffers from Neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer, and has been cared for by his favourite team on a number of occasions this season.

    And on Thursday a group of Sunderland players, including Defoe, Sebastian Larsson, John O’Shea and Vito Mannone, stopped by to see him in hospital and offer him a hug.

    ‘Bradley is doing well and has cheered up after having some very special visitors,’ his family wrote on his Facebook page.

    Bradley was diagnosed with cancer in 2013 and last year more than £700,000 was raised to pay for treatment in the US, including a donation of £200,000 from Everton.

    His family however were later told his cancer had unfortunately spread and that treatment would only help give the youngster more time.

    The footballing world has come together in support of Bradley’s plight, with fans and players from all clubs keen to show their support for the youngster.

    The five-year-old has had the pleasure of leading out the Sunderland team at the Stadium of Light, and has struck up a strong bond with the club’s star striker Defoe, as well as meeting players and managers around the league including Pep Guardiola, Romelu Lukaku and Asmir Begovic.