Ryan Nelsen, the manager for the Major League Soccer side Toronto FC has admitted that he would love to bring Tottenham Hotspur and England national team striker Jermain Defoe to the club.
The former New Zealand international skipper just finished his first season in charge of the Canadian outfit but he is already looking forward and planning for the new season with a lot of names as potential signings in his head. And one of those names is that of Defoe who has managed just one start for Spurs this season as he finds himself behind new Spanish recruit Roberto Soldado in the pecking order.
Nelsen is a huge fan of the former West Ham United and Portsmouth striker, having played with him for a time during his brief stint at White Hart Lane and he is keen to offer Jermain Defoe an escape route with regular first team football opportunities.
He was asked whether he would be interested in bringing Defoe to MLS and he stated that looking at what former Italian striker Marco Di Vaio has achieved, he could do the same being an incredible player. Nelsen also hailed Defoe as one of the most natural goal scorers he has ever seen, adding that he was always the first one out at training and even during training; he was trying to beat his man and get on the score sheet.
He also stated that Jermain Defoe is one of those players who could easily adapt to playing in the MLS, adding that if one asks any other club in the Premier League; they would be interested in taking the player. The Toronto FC boss also stated that he is still in contact with Defoe and they regularly exchange text messages but added that he hasn’t asked him about the move yet.