By Kevin Phillips

24th Jan, 2022 | 4:00pm

Phillips fears Sunderland could repeat transfer mistake after Defoe update

Kevin Phillips fears Sunderland would be repeating mistakes of the past if they signed Jermain Defoe as a player only.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the Stadium of Light legend suggested the 39-year-old would struggle for game time in the company of Ross Stewart.

Defoe is a free agent after his contract with Rangers was mutually terminated earlier this month.

As quoted by Chronicle Live (22 January), Lee Johnson revealed the club are “working very hard” to re-sign their former striker.

In his previous spell on Wearside, Defoe scored 37 goals in 93 appearances.

When asked by Football Insider‘s Dylan Childs for his thoughts on Defoe’s potential return, Phillips said: “If they get him as a player/coach, yes.

“If they’re signing him with a view to just being a player, I’m not sure. I’m not a big advocate of players going back to clubs where they did well because it will never be the same.

“It could be a good move but I think Sunderland have been down that route before and it’s failed. I prefer them going for younger players.

“If they got Defoe in as a player/coach, on the grounds he’d be doing more coaching than playing, I think it’d be a good move. But Defoe has made it clear that he wants to play.

“I can’t see him starting ahead of Ross Stewart, that’s for sure. It would be a coup for the club to get him in but I’d have reservations if it’s just as a player.”

In other news, it can be revealed that Sunderland have made a move to sign a Tottenham player.