The prolific Jermain Defoe has been an inspired signing by Sunderland

David Moyes says Jermain Defoe can become one of Sunderland's greatest strikers after West Ham gave up on signing the striker.

And Moyes says the prolific England international will not be sold this month for any price.

Defoe has bagged 11 Premier League goals already this season for the Black Cats, who have rejected a £6m offer for the forward from his former club West Ham.

And Moyes said at his Friday press briefing that owner Ellis Short would not welcome further bids for the 34-year-old Defoe, who has a contract with Sunderland which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2019.

"We have had an offer and we told them that he wasn't for sale," said Moyes. "It's come from the owner and we have said that he's not for sale.

"We have never asked for a second bid, we have never put a price on him, not at any time.

"He's really important to us, everybody knows that, and the club has already come out and said that.

David Moyes says Jermain Defoe is very important to his side

"There has been very little said from Sunderland Football Club. The talking has all come from other people, not from here."

It has been rumoured that West Ham returned with an improved £13m bid but Moyes said such speculation was "totally wrong".

Defoe has been a revelation since joining Sunderland from MLS side Toronto in January 2015 and his 15 goals last season proved key in the club's successful fight against relegation.

"He's here, and he's very much liked," Moyes added. "In a way, he's in a real purple patch in his career, so hopefully he is enjoying it and he's steady with that.

"If he keeps scoring the goals at the rate he is, then he's going to put himself up there because of his goals and what he's done.

"This club has had some really good goalscoring centre-forwards over the years, so I'm sure Jermain will want to get in amongst that group and he's got a great chance."