Nottingham Forest have been given a boost in their loose pursuit of Jermain Defoe, with the Bournemouth striker considering his options due to a lack of playing time. The 36-year-old has struggled for form and minutes with Bournemouth, failing to score in seven appearances in all competitions this season.
His contract at Dean Court still has 18 months to run, but Defoe has made it clear that he wants to play football. Forest were keen on the veteran’s signature over the summer and could renew their interest in January if his availability is made known. Aitor Karanka has Karim Ansarifard, Hilel Soudani and Daryl Murphy as back-up for Lewis Grabban but may consider Defoe.
The veteran told the Mirror (h/t Nottingham Live): “We’ll see what happens. At the end of the day I’m a footballer and I like playing football. I’m not playing football at the minute so we’ll see what happens”. Defoe joined Bournemouth from Sunderland on a free transfer in 2017 and has gone on to make 33 appearances across the board, scoring just four times.
Despite his struggles in the Premier League, Defoe could still be a good temporary option for the Championship. Karanka would be hard-pressed to turn the striker down if he was available on loan, but wage demands could be a stumbling block. Sheffield United are also believed to be keen on the England international, but there’s been no official bid made for his services yet.
