Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe is unlikely to re-join Premier League newboys AFC Bournemouth.
The 32-year-old is among a list of potential targets with manager Eddie Howe keen to bring in a new forward before the transfer window slams shut on the first of September.
If Defoe were to return, it would be his second spell at the club having played there in his teenage years back in the 2000-01 season, scoring an impressive 18 goals in 29 appearances in his spell on the south coast.
His spell also brought an amazing record with the former West Ham, Tottenham and Portsmouth man scored in 10 consecutive games which still stands as a football league record.
Cherries lacking goals
Bournemouth have failed to score in their opening two top-flight matches with two 1-0 defeats to Aston Villa and Liverpool respectively. They have been linked with the likes of Crystal Palace’s Glenn Murray and Dwight Gayle and Queens Park Rangers’ Charlie Austin.
However the Cherries had a £3m bid for Murray rejected by Alan Pardew’s side and it does seem that they will priced out of any move for either Austin or Defoe.
Defoe has been Sunderland’s best player in what has been a dismal start to the campaign opening the Black Cats' account in the 4-2 opening day defeat to Leicester City and played the full 90 minutes in the 3-1 loss to Norwich last Saturday.
Defoe unsettled on Wearside
Defoe's future on Wearside has been thrown into doubt in the recent weeks, despite only moving to the North-east from MLS side Toronto FC and another three years on his contract at the Stadium of Light, he is reportedly failed to settle into his new surroundings with the side seemingly faltering.
Sunderland will be reluctant to let the England international go having already sold Connor Wickham to Crystal Palace and would leave them with Steven Fletcher and Danny Graham with both only having one-year remaining on their contracts.
