Sunderland hotshot Maja could well become West Ham’s new Defoe

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West Ham United are reportedly consideing a move for Sunderland striker Josh Maja this month.

According to The Sunderland Echo, the Hammers are keen on signing the young Englishman on a cut-price deal before loaning him back to the Black Cats for the rest of the season.

Maja will be out of contract at the end of 2018/19, meaning Sunderland face losing him for nothing as things stand.

The 20-year-old is hot property at the moment having scored 15 goals in 25 League One appearances.

He is supposedly being tracked by a number of other clubs given his contract situation, including Cardiff City and Celtic.

Whoever is able to snap him up will certainly have a player for the future on their hands. The Echo report it could take as little as £3 million to secure him.

West Ham’s next Defoe?

If West Ham are able to pip the other clubs to Maja, then it could see them boast a 2019 version of former striker Jermain Defoe.

Defoe represented the Irons from 1999-2004 and made 105 appearances for the club, scoring 41 goals before joining Tottenham Hotspur.

Defoe made his mark for the Hammers in the 2001/02 season, where he scored 14 in all competitions.

The striker was praised for his liveliness in and around the box and deadly finishing from inside.

Certainly Maja somewhat resembles a younger Defoe at present – he is also pacy forward with a fine eye for goal.

By signing Maja, West Ham could well be throwing back to the days they had another former Black Cat Defoe on their books.