Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce is open to the prospect of signing Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe, should they beat the Premier League drop this season. The Eagles have been by far the best side in the bottom half of the table after having achieved victories over the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool over the past month. The South London outfit are currently six points ahead of 18th-placed Swansea City, who hold an inferior goal difference, and this puts them in the front seat to avoid relegation with just three games to play,

Speaking at his press conference ahead of the Hull City game, Allardyce admitted that his side would in the running to sign Defoe, should the veteran decide to return to the capital this summer. "If we are safe and Jermain Defoe is available, and he wants to come to Crystal Palace, I would be interested," the former Sunderland boss is quoted as saying on The Mail. Defoe is due to be released on a free transfer following the Black Cats' relegation to the Championship, and he is said to be keen on earning regular Premier League football in order to maintain his hopes of representing England at next year's World Cup.