Newcastle emerge as surprise suitors for England international

Newcastle will move for Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe at the end of the season if they secure promotion to the Premier League, reports The Sun.

Defoe, 34, is expected to leave Sunderland in the summer in a bid to keep his dream of representing England at the 2018 World Cup alive after scoring on his return to the international set-up last month.

The veteran striker was heavily linked with a return to West Ham in January but the Black Cats rebuffed their attempts, with Defoe their only chance of avoiding the drop.

However, Sunderland are now 10 points adrift of safety with eight games remaining in the season and relegation looks a foregone conclusion.

While one side in the North East appears set for Championship football next season, another, their fiercest rivals, should be back in the Premier League unless a dramatic collapse over the remainder of the season.

Newcastle are one point clear at the top of the Championship and 10 adrift of third place Huddersfield, with Rafa Benitez’s side all but safe to plan for life back in the Premier League next season at the first time of asking.

The Magpies are expected to be busy in the transfer window as they bid to build a squad capable of staying in the Premier League and a move for Defoe would be incredible controversial given his current affiliation with their city rivals Sunderland.

David Moyes’ side have only scored 24 goals in the Premier League this season, Defoe has netted 14 of those.

For more stats on Jermain Defoe, click here to visit his WhoScored player page