Report: Sunderland 'immediately' rejects West Ham's £6M bid for Defoe

West Ham will have to return to the negotiating table with a better offer for Jermain Defoe after Sunderland reportedly rejected the club's initial bid.

It's believed that the Black Cats "immediately" rejected a bid worth £6 million for the 34-year-old striker, Kaveh Solhekol of Sky Sports reports

West Ham, however, is reportedly desperate to add attacking reinforcements during the January transfer window and is prepared to submit an increased offer.

According to Solhekol, the club asked Sunderland to name a price for the former Tottenham forward. who has scored more than 50 percent of Sunderland's Premier League goals this season.

The former England international joined Sunderland from Toronto FC in January of 2015 in a deal that saw forward Jozy Altidore join the Major League Soccer outfit.

Defoe has played a crucial role in Sunderland's seemingly annual struggle to avoid relegation since his return to England, with his dramatic goal against Chelsea on the penultimate day of the 2015-16 campaign ensuring safety still fondly remembered in the northeast.

Meanwhile, the likes of Andre Ayew, Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho, and Simone Zaza have underachieved through 20 games, combining to score just four goals.

Considering that both clubs are in the bottom half of the table - with Sunderland occupying the final relegation spot - a bid close to £10 million could be required in order to complete a deal between the two Premier League rivals.