Sam Allardyce says he does not want to sell Jermain Defoe this month, despite reports suggesting otherwise.
The England striker's former club, Bournemouth, have been heavily linked with him throughout the season, but Sunderland do not want him to leave, something his manager was clear about today.
With the Cherries reportedly plotting a move for the veteran, Allardyce confirmed that a bid has not been received for the player, nor would the Black Cats be willing to accept one either.
No approach for Defoe
Speaking to Sky Sports, the Sunderland boss revealed that the Bournemouth rumours are nothing but that - mere speculation, saying that the club "haven't had a bit for him" and, if they had, he would have "probably turned it down."
The only way that the Wearsiders would let Defoe leave the Stadium of Light, he continued, was if they received a bid so large that the owner personally told Allardyce that they couldn't "afford to turn it down."
However, the fact remains that Sunderland have not even received a bid at all for the player, never mind an irresistible one, nor do they "want to sell him."
Lone striker role working out
Defoe has become a key player for the Black Cats this season as they try to avoid the drop, boasting nine goals in all competitions as his year anniversary with the club nears.
At the beginning of the season, he was struggling for game time, with former boss Dick Advocaat believing he wasn't fit for a lone striker role, meaning he spent a handful of games watching from the bench.
Nonetheless, things have changed since Allardyce has arrived, with the ex-Newcastle United manager saying that the "belief" that he cannot "play up there on his own" is being challenged by his recent performances.
He continued, saying he is "more than willing to continue" playing the striker on his own, with him in great goal-scoring form as a result - bagging a brace as Sunderland won a crucial relegation six-pointer against bottom side Aston Villa last time out.
The "only time" Allardyce "would consider not [playing Defoe on his own]," he said, would be if the player himself told him that "it's really not working" and that he wanted "somebody with [him]" up top.
However, that has not occurred, and the boss is keen for his striker to "carry on and be as good as he was [against Villa]," especially in a "clinical" sense.
