Jermain Defoe has made a rather bizarre claim about one ‘amazing’ Sunderland star after claiming he has held informal talks with the club.
Jermain Defoe hit the headlines this week after he revealed that he had had ‘discussions’ about a potential return to Wearside.
The striker brought his second spell at Sunderland to a bitter end in 2022 and fans were left frustrated by his abrupt exit.
However, he has now made it clear that he wishes to return for a third time, but this time to take the managerial vacancy.
Earlier this week, Defoe said: ““I’ve had no interview or anything like that. And like I said before when we spoke, I spoke about obviously the people that want to come with me and even in the background, certain players that I know that I can attract, young top players in the country that I can attract to try and get the club back into the Premier League.
“I’ve not had an interview or anything, but I think they’re aware that, obviously, I’d be interested in taking a job. Why not?”
Defoe is the current coach of Tottenham Hotspur U18s and is yet to take up a coaching role in senior football.
With Sunderland set to get the ball rolling in appointing a new manager after the final day of the season, it is highly unlikely that Defoe will be on their shortlist.
However, that hasn’t stopped the 41-year-old from continuing to discuss a potential switch to the Stadium of Light.
Defoe has now made a bizarre claim regarding one of Sunderland’s best players, claiming he has the power to tempt them to stay at the club.
Jermain Defoe thinks he could tempt ‘amazing’ star to stay
Speaking to Sunderland Echo, the former England international said: “f I was manager, he would stay. I know Jack Clarke and you never know.
“At the end of the day, he’s someone who I knew about from when he was at Leeds and he comes to Tottenham and he’s a 1v1 specialist. He’s one of those players that you don’t have to coach. You coach him by giving him the ball and letting him express himself and do what he does.
“You can’t really coach players like that. If the club can hold on to him, he’ll be amazing. I think for any manager or young coach to work with players like that would obviously be a dream because when you’ve got good players, it makes your job easier.”
Why would Jack Clarke turn down the Premier League?
Keeping hold of Jack Clarke would be unbelievable business at this stage, but anyone that believes Jermain Defoe would be able to tempt him to stay is crazy.
Defoe wasn’t at Tottenham when Clarke was and had already left Sunderland by the time the 23-year-old moved to Wearside.
So unless I am missing something, there is no reason the pair would have a strong enough bond for Clarke to stay in the Championship just because of him.
Defoe was a brilliant player, but there is no way he would be ready to take on the Sunderland job and I’m not sure I would even be willing to have him if it meant Clarke stayed either.
He’s just trying to get fans on his side and I can’t see it working.