According to reputed journalist Alan Nixon, EFL Championship side Wigan Athletic are plotting an ambitious move to sign former England striker Jermain Defoe on loan from AFC Bournemouth in the January transfer window.
Having earned promotion to the English second division, the Latics have found the going hard and are currently stationed 16th on the standings with 25 points from 22 matches. As a result, Paul Cook must look for reinforcements in the January window with Defoe emerging as a shock target.
The 36-year-old is one of the most decorated strikers in England and has successful wherever he has played throughout his career. Having started out at West Ham United, Defoe went on to enjoy successful spells with Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth (loan) before joining MLS outfit Toronto FC, where he made a significant impact as well.
The centre-forward returned to England with Sunderland in 2015 and enjoyed a couple of fine campaigns with the Black Cats, even as they got relegated to the Premier League. Following the Wearsiders’ relegation, Defoe joined Bournemouth in the summer of 2017 but did not have the best of the seasons as he finished with just four goals and one assist in 26 appearances across all competitions.
The veteran striker has featured just 7 times in the ongoing season, owing to Callum Wilson’s brilliant form and has managed a solitary assist in his limited game time.
Wigan could do with more firepower in their attack, given that main striker Will Grigg has chipped in with just four goals in the ongoing campaign so far. Meanwhile, 30-year-old James Vaughan has netted just twice in the Championship. Summer signing Joe Garner has also struggled to make much of an impact, finding the net just once in his ten appearances so far.
This is where signing Defoe would prove to be a shrewd piece of business for the Latics. The Englishman, despite being 36, remains a more than capable striker. Sure, he is not the same player he was a few years ago but someone with 163 Premier League goals and 20 goals for the England national team doesn’t lose touch or quality overnight.
Given the opportunity, the Englishman is capable of delivering on the Championship stage. If not as a regular starter, he could be more than a potent impact substitute. And that is why Cook and Wigan should take a risk on the veteran striker and bring him on loan till the end of the season from the Cherries.
