David Moyes says Sunderland will not be selling Defoe after West Ham ended their interest in signing the striker David Moyes says Sunderland will not be selling Defoe after West Ham ended their interest in signing the striker

West Ham have given up on signing Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe, Sky sources understand.

The Hammers had a £6m bid rejected for their former player last week and were considering a follow-up offer.

They asked Sunderland to name their price but the Wearside club have told them Defoe is not for sale in the current transfer window.

Defoe has scored 11 of Sunderland's 19 Premier League goals this season as they battle, along with West Ham, against relegation to the Championship.

Hammers boss Slaven Bilic is keen to add a striker to his squad in January with midfielder Michail Antonio their leading Premier League scorer by some distance on eight goals.

Speaking at his media conference on Friday afternoon, Sunderland boss David Moyes said he would not be selling Defoe to any club.

Defoe celebrates after converting his penalty to level the score at 2-2 against Liverpool on Monday

"West Ham have made an offer and we rejected it. We've said he's not for sale and we won't be selling him," he said. "There's a lot of talk - but it's not come from this football club.

"I don't want to fill a lot of time on your programme or fill any more column inches, other people are doing that for me."

Slaven Bilic talks about Defoe and Brentford's Scott Hogan Slaven Bilic talks about Defoe and Brentford's Scott Hogan

Hopes that summer-signing Simone Zaza would provide the goals this term have proven baseless, and the Italy international is on his way out of the London Stadium in January.

Defoe started his professional career with West Ham and scored 41 goals before leaving for Tottenham in February 2004.