On-fire striker Jermain Defoe could be snapped up in a free transfer this summer if Sunderland are relegated from the Premier League
Sources on Wearside have confirmed the existence of a clause in the 34-year-old’s Black Cats contract which would allow him to leave for nothing if the club fail to retain their top flight status.
The news is likely to put a host of Premier League sides on red alert ahead of the transfer window.
Defoe has scored 14 goals for the struggling Black Cats this season, and marked his return to the England squad with a goal against Lithuania at the weekend.