“World Class” Defoe Would Be Welcomed At London Rivals

QPR striker Jay Bothroyd is hoping reports linking Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe to Loftus Road are true.

Bothroyd has paid tribute to Defoe, whom he played with in his younger years, calling him ‘world class’ but feels he should leave it up to boss Neil Warnock to persuade the striker to join QPR.

“There’s been talk of Jermain Defoe,” Bothroyd told talkSPORT. “He’s a world class striker and a proven goalscorer in the Premiership. He’d be welcome.

“I played with him when I was younger, at under-15 level, and he’s a different sort of player to me. Of course I’d like to link up with him but it’s hypothetical at the moment.

“I haven’t spoken to him about coming here yet,” he said. “But I’ll leave that to the manager – he’s pretty good at persuading people.”

If Defoe was to leave White Hart Lane he is expected to fetch for a fee around £8million.