Defoe ponders life after the Black Cats

JERMAIN Defoe has hinted he is thinking about life after Sunderland next season.

The Black Cats’ top scorer gave an interview to American broadcaster CNN about his relationship with young fan Bradley Lowery.

The five-year-old, from Blackhall Colliery in County Durham, is a Sunderland supporter who is suffering from neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer. His condition is terminal.

Bradley’s fight against the disease has won widespread support from within the sporting community, no more so than from his favourite footballer Defoe.

Defoe has visited Bradley in hospital and they have spent time together before and after Sunderland matches, where the youngster has been a mascot.

The 34-year-old is even coming to Bradley’s birthday party.

Yet with the Black Cats’ 10-year stay in the Premier League set to come to an end, Defoe does not appear to have plans to remain at the Stadium of Light beyond the end of the campaign.

He said: “I feel powerless because there is nothing I can do for Bradley.

“All I can do is try and spend as much time with him as possible between now and the end of the season and that is what I am going to try and do, try and see him whenever I can.

“It is just to be around him, just to make him happy for however long he has.”

Defoe is understood to have a clause in his contract which allows him to leave on a free transfer at the end of the season.

West Ham United were one of the clubs interested in buying Defoe in January, apparently telling the Black Cats to name their price for a player who started his top-flight career at Upton Park.

For Defoe to have scored 14 goals in a struggling team – Sunderland have only found the net 26 times in the league – has highlighted his worth, as has a first England appearance in three and a half years during which he scored with one of his first touches.

Through a twist of fate, Bradley had already been chosen as a mascot for the World Cup qualifier against Lithuania before Defoe was recalled to the England set-up.

Defoe has shown a great affinity with Wearside and its flagship football club.

However, supporters could have no complaints if the hitman felt it was best to move on.