Sunderland boss Lee Johnson has admitted that any deal to bring Jermain Defoe back to the Stadium of Light still has a lot of hurdles to overcome.Â
It's emerged that Sunderland and a host of their League One rivals - Oxford United, Charlton Athletic and Ipswich Town - are pursuing a deal for the recently departed Rangers forward.
Defoe, 39, made 93 appearances for Sunderland earlier in his career, scoring 37 goals between 2015 and 2017.
Despite the fact he's a free agent, any deal for Defoe isn't straightforward according to Johnson.
As per James Hunter, the Sunderland gaffer said: "A lot of things would have to happen for everyone to be happy [with a deal] and at the moment it's not there."
Sunderland currently sit third in the League One table, having seen Wigan Athletic take advantage of a game in-hand last night to move back into the automatic promotion places.
The Latics still have games to play over Sunderland and Wycombe Wanderers, who top the table.
Johnson's side are only a point behind Wycombe, though, having played the same number of games as Gareth Ainsworth's Chairboys.
Sunderland lock horns with Portsmouth at the weekend.
The VerdictÂ
Any deal for Defoe was always going to be complicated for a League One side, even Sunderland.
Defoe might be 39-years-old now, but he's still a high-profile player and someone who has quality that is streets ahead of League One.
Add in the fact that there's a lot of offers on the table in the division and Johnson is right to play it down at this stage.
It doesn't sound like it's completely dead, though, which gives Sunderland hope.
They will be hoping that the emotional bond Defoe has with the club swings things in their favour.
Thoughts? Let us know!Â