Sheffield United are interested in signing Jermain Defoe on loan from Bournemouth in January.
Defoe has failed to start a single Premier League match this season, playing just 21 minutes across four substitute appearances.
Which is why United are interested in a six-month loan deal. However, they would need the Cherries to subsidise Defoe’s hefty wages, which the Mirror claims stand at a staggering £130,000-a-week.
Yet even if Bournemouth are open to the move, it may not be quite that simple for Wilder.
Competition for Defoe
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Sunderland owner Stewart Donald admitted back in November that the club had made an attempt to re-sign the 36-year-old themselves.
Defoe spent two and a half years at the Stadium of Light, scoring 37 goals in 93 games.
“I asked in the summer if we could and the answer came we couldn’t,” Donald told BBC Radio Newcastle.
“We might ask again but it was a pretty strong no. It was a cheeky request though!
“I was wondering if they might contribute to his wages.”
Whether Defoe would want to drop down as far as League One is debatable, but the forward does have an affinity with the Black Cats.
Another question – and one that also affects the Blades – is whether the Wearsiders can even afford the England international.
However, what it does mean is that if United are serious about signing Defoe then they are sure to face competition.
The Cherries attacker would also add to what is already an aging strike force at Bramall Lane. Captain Billy Sharp (32), Leon Clarke (33) and David McGoldrick (31) are all over the age of 30.
Yet Defoe would also bring a keen eye for goal to a Blades side that are targeting promotion from the Championship.