Defoe hails ‘fantastic club’ Bournemouth

Jermain Defoe has labelled Bournemouth a “fantastic club” amid growing speculation the striker could be lining up for the Cherries next season.

The Sunderland striker is expected to make a summer move back to the Premier League and Eddie Howe’s side are said to be leading the chase to sign the England international.

But the 34-year-old forward said he is fully focused on playing for his country after being named in Gareth Southgate’s squad to face Scotland in a World Cup qualifier and France in a friendly.

“There has been a lot of speculation about me going to this club and that club, a lot of stuff about Bournemouth,” said Defoe.

“I have just kept my head down and I am focused on England and the two games coming up, whether I play or not, just to be around the team and to try and enjoy it. There is no better feeling than to put that England shirt on.

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“I want to get my head down, get England out of the way and then sit down with my family and decide what I really want to do. We’ll see what happens.”

Defoe, who scored 15 league goals for Sunderland last season, started his career at Bournemouth while on loan from West Ham, netting 19 times in 31 games.

And the former Tottenham Hotspur striker heaped praise on the south coast side and their manager Howe.

He said: “It is a fantastic club. Even if I was stood here a retired footballer, I would turn round and say for any player, young player, someone that wants to improve and play under a top manager, coaches, a family club, then I would say yeah it is a good club to go to.

“What Eddie Howe has achieved is unbelievable. They have a good team, a lot of energy and my time there when I was younger I really enjoyed it, it was brilliant.”