As reported by The Daily Mail, Jermain Defoe could end his career where it all began with West Ham interested in bringing the striker back to London this January.

What's the word?

In what would be an incredible homecoming, The Mail reckon Defoe is one of Slaven Bilic's big targets in the January transfer window.

West Ham are badly in need of strikers with injuries and bad form decimating their ability to score goals this season. Andy Carroll has returned but Bilic likely needs a different option to the big target man up front on occasion.

The Mail report that Sunderland don't want to lose their striker, especially with goals at a premium in a relegation fight. However, the Hammers are willing to offer not just cash but a player in return.

That could be tempting enough for Sunderland, Defoe is 34 after all and can't have many seasons at the top level left.

Can he still offer West Ham something?

At the very start of his career, Defoe scored 41 goals in 105 appearances  for the Hammers. That's a scoring rate that Irons fans would no doubt find appealing, especially given their lack of action in the penalty box this season.

But is he still capable of it? Put simply, yes.

The veteran striker has scored 8 goals in 17 Premier League games for Sunderland this season. Also offering 2 assists, it's clear he still has what it takes to be a force in the top flight. That's a total more than all of West Ham's strikers put together this season.

He's enjoyed his time at Sunderland overall. Last season he banged in 18 goals, his highest total since 2009/10 when he was still at Spurs.

If the reported deal goes through, it's likely to be one that benefits West Ham and Bilic's misfiring attack.