Star Defoe cashes in as Cherries win his signature

The Black Cats have missed outonapaydaywithDefoe,but they will be looking to recoup as much as possible from the sale of their other assets ahead of life in the Championship.

Defoe, who joined Sunderland in January 2015 and turns 35 in October, has a clause in his contract which allows him to leave as a free agent following Sunderland’s relegation.

He scored 15 goals in 40 appearances for Sunderland plus another for England on his return to the international fold in a World Cup qualifier in March, against Lithuania at Wembley.

Defoe was ruled out of the season finale at Chelsea on Sunday with a hamstring strain and was seen saying goodbye to his team-mates after the game before remaining in London.

The transfer to Bournemouth – who ended the season in ninth place, their best ever finish – is understood to be moving along at pace with a medical scheduled and reports that Defoe could earn as much as £20million over the three years. That whopping figure includes a signing-on fee.

The move will see him return to Bournemouth having enjoyed a successful loan there from West Ham as an 18-year-old in 2000-01, scoring 19 goals in 31 games.

Cherries boss Eddie Howe, a former team-mate of Defoe during his loan spell on the south coast, has been a longtime admirer of the striker and they have won the race to sign him.

West Ham and Crystal Palace were among the clubs weighing up a move, but earlier this week it emerged the Hammers’ interest had cooled as they had moved on to other options. Manager Slaven Bilic attempted to land Defoe in January with a £6million bid – rejected by Sunderland as they were still battling the drop at that point – but are now looking elsewhere.

Former Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton, suspended for 18 months after admitting an FA charge in relation to betting, has been released by Burnley, along with winger Michael Kightly.

West Ham utility player Declan Rice, 18, has been called up by the Republic of Ireland for their upcoming friendlies against Mexico and Uruguay and June 11’s World Cup qualifier against Austria.