Sunderland vs Swansea City - Moyes unhappy with clause in Defoe's Sunderland contract

Posted Saturday, May 13, 2017 by PA

Sunderland boss David Moyes has insisted he would never have allowed striker Jermain Defoe to have the clause in his contract which means he can leave for free in the wake of relegation.

The 34-year-old striker, who could play his final home game against Swansea on Saturday, is currently assessing his options as the Black Cats prepare for life back in the Sky Bet Championship. Moyes is hoping he decides to remain on Wearside, with potential suitors already forming an orderly queue.

However, the Scot has admitted his surprise that the club agreed to the clause when they handed the man they signed from Toronto, in a deal worth around B£6million in January 2015, a contract extension in June last year.

Moyes said: "We hope Jermain stays. Everybody at the club wants him to stay, all the supporters want him to stay, but it has to be Jermain's decision what he does.

"Yes, there's a clause in the contract, which is hard to take, I think. I would hope that in my time, if I had been the manager, I wouldn't have allowed a clause like that to be in there.

"But it is, and obviously we have to honour the contract."

Midfielder George Honeyman is ruled out after damaging his back in training.

Skipper Lee Cattermole (Achilles), fellow midfielder Darron Gibson (groin) and full-back Bryan Oviedo (hamstring) are all closing in on returns, although the game is likely to come too soon for Oviedo.

Meanwhile, Paul Clement believes "history" is on Swansea's side in their battle for survival.

While relegation rivals Hull had a major turn around of players under Marco Silva in January, Swansea can count on several individuals who have had a long association with the club.

It is a factor that Clement feels could prove decisive in the final two games, with the former Chelsea number two seeing similarities between that and some of the players he worked with at Stamford Bridge.

"I have experienced it with John Terry and Frank Lampard at Chelsea, but what I saw last Saturday was special," said head coach Clement.

On the impact that diminutive club captain Leon Britton had in last weekend's success against Everton, a win which moved Swansea out of the relegation zone, Clement added: "He went for one with his head, the crowd were going crazy.

"He put a really strong tackle in as well. Then when he came off, well, that (ovation) was amazing.

"What an affinity Leon has with the supporters. Unbelievable.

"That could be seen as an advantage for us, people that understand the history."