Prolific English marksman has yet to score in the Premier League so far this season.
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Newcastle United head coach Alan Pardew has revealed that he tried to sign out-of-favour Tottenham Hotspur front man Jermain Defoe during the recent summer transfer window, according to reports in the Sunday Mirror.
The England international has only been used as a bit-part player at White Hart Lane so far in this campaign by Tottenham head coach Andre Villas-Boas, with the Portuguese instead opting to go with recent big-money signing Roberto Soldado as a lone front man in north London instead.
As a result, Defoe has started just the one Premier League match all season long for Spurs, and even that ended in a shock 3-0 loss to arch-rivals West Ham United in the Premier League at the Lane last month.
And now ahead of the two sides’ meeting in the top flight at James’ Park on Sunday afternoon, Pardew has confirmed that the Magpies did try and lure Defoe to the north east during the close season, only to fail in their efforts though.
“There was a little bit of interest from us [in the summer], but he is a Spurs player and I think he is doing a good job there,” said Pardew.
“Whenever he is called upon, he scores, so I would not be surprised if they start him on Sunday.
“I worked with Jermain at West Ham and think he is a fantastic player. When the ball comes into him, whether it is left foot, right foot, he is hugely effective.
“He’s also good in the air for a fairly small fellow. He’s a terrific player, but really and truly I do not think he would come to this football club.”
Defoe has so far managed to hit the back of the net on nine occasions in just seven Capital One Cup and Uefa Europa League fixtures to date, with the Englishman becoming his club’s all-time leading scorer in European competition with his penalty against Sheriff Tiraspol on Thursday.