Jermain Defoe is on the verge of signing for Bournemouth on a free transfer after West Ham ended their interest in the England international.

Defoe, who did not play in Sunderland’s final game of the season against Chelsea, had a clause in his contract that enabled him to leave for nothing after relegation to the Championship

And the 34-year-old has not wasted any time in discussing a move and is thought to have opened talks with the South Coast club immediately after the Black Cats final game.

Despite his age, Defoe will want to match his wages at Sunderland, where he was paid around £70,000 a week. It remains to be seen whether Bournemouth are put off by his demands, although West Ham, who bid £6 million for the striker during the winter transfer window, have not followed up that interest.