Pulis confirms West Brom interest in Defoe

West Brom head coach Tony Pulis has confirmed an interest in signing Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe.

England striker Defoe is reportedly free to leave the Stadium of Light after their relegation from the Premier League triggered a clause in his contract.

The 34-year-old has looked as sharp as ever despite the Black Cats’ struggles this season, scoring 14 league goals and finding the net on his return to the national fold after four years without an England cap.

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe was quick to register the Cherries’ interest in Defoe, while West Ham have also been linked with a move for the former Hammer.

“When you say he’s a free agent, effectively he’s a free agent, but that still brings an enormous cost to whichever club takes Jermain,” Pulis told a pre-match news conference ahead of Saturday’s trip to Burnley.

“We’ve got our fingers in the pie on quite a few players and we’ll see how we go on those players. If Jermain’s one of them, we’ll be pushing on that one if we can.”

TP addresses the media ahead of the Baggies’ @premierleague trip to @BurnleyOfficial on Saturday (ko 3pm).#WBA pic.twitter.com/d6TaCxicd4

— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) May 5, 2017

The Baggies are safely ensconced in eighth place in the Premier League, though their goal tally of 39 is the lowest in the top half, with Pulis short on attacking options after Saido Berahino’s outcasting and January departure left just Hal Robson-Kanu and Salomon Rondon as senior strikers. 

Pulis added: “When Saido left we had Robson-Kanu and Salomon, a free transfer and a player that’s only spent one season in the Premier League, so we knew that was an area we had to improve.

“There was no-one there at the time that we could get in. And I don’t want to waste people’s money by spending a lot of money on just a back-up. We have to try and bring players in who are going to improve the first XI and keep the club improving that way.

“That’s the way I’ve always thought about it, that’s the way I try to approach it. That will certainly be one of the areas we’re trying to improve.”