AN ADAMANT David Moyes has told Jermain Defoe and his Premier League admirers the striker is absolutely “priceless” to Sunderland in the fight against relegation this season.

West Ham United are preparing a significant £6m January offer for a player who turns 35 in October and earns a reputed £80,000-a-week on Wearside.

It would be no surprise either if Sam Allardyce, the former Sunderland boss, made a similar move in the New Year after agreeing to take over at Crystal Palace.

But Moyes, knowing how Defoe has already struck eight goals this season and only Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero have scored more goals in 2016, appreciates the quality the London-born front-man brings to his squad and will not be letting him go next month.

“I wouldn’t even think about it,” said Moyes. “His stats for 2016 show he’s been brilliant and he’s been scoring goals for Sunderland. What would he get if he was at a Tottenham?

“It wouldn’t be considered. I don’t think there’s any price because we know that Jermain’s goals are so valuable to us. Priceless.”

Defoe’s goals have put Sunderland in with a fighting chance of survival again despite failing to win any of their opening ten matches. The Black Cats will head to Manchester United this afternoon knowing they can climb out of the bottom three if they stun Old Trafford.

Defoe is an important cog in the Sunderland system because of his goal return and general work-rate, although Moyes admits he has to be mindful of how much football he plays.

The Sunderland boss said: “He needs managing because he’s a senior professional and needs treating right, which we do. He wants to train every day, he trains like he’s much younger and he’s in good condition.

“I’m not saying we’re getting the best out of him because he’s had a great career and he’s scored a lot of goals, but nobody can turn around and say they can see a demise in him. You can only see someone who will keep going.”

Defoe has benefited from having Victor Anichebe alongside him in recent matches and Moyes has been hugely impressed by the contribution of his free agent signing.

Anichebe has scored three goals and has become an important figure in attack for Sunderland even though he had struggled to find a club before he signed after the summer transfer window had closed.

Moyes said: “His form has been incredible and I don’t think you can put a value on what he is worth at the minute for a player like him for us.

“I don’t know what it would cost you to go out on the high street and buy a Victor Anichebe somewhere. It would be a lot of money.

“We are using him in every game. I remember at Everton we used to take him off but now we are saying to him you are playing and you are playing for 90 minutes.

“What we have to be mindful of is having so many games around Christmas time, we only have a small squad and we have to maximise Victor, Jermain, and the players who can help us make a difference in games.”

Anichebe and Defoe have only been joined in the scoring charts by Patrick van Aanholt. Moyes said: “It’s sad, that’s not good, but at least we’ve got Victor who has scored a couple alongside Jermain. If we hadn’t got that we’d be really struggling. I think it does suit Jermain to have someone closer to him, but he showed last year that he can score goals on his own as well.

“I’ve not had a chance to say to the players yet. I’ll be asking them all to get a couple in their Christmas stockings, get some of that magic dust or whatever you call it.”

When Allardyce was in charge he allowed Sunderland’s players to have Christmas Day off. Moyes, however, was not feeling as festive this year. He said: “No, we’re in, we’re preparing for a game.”

He is looking ahead to making his first return as a manager to Manchester United, where he lost his job in May 2014 after less than a year in the job as Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor.

Moyes said: “I’ve always had a really good reception at Old Trafford. Even before I went there as manager, I think Manchester United supporters recognised people who were doing well, they are knowledgeable.

“I never felt at any time I had big criticism inside the stadium, I think most people in there were fully aware of the situation.

“There was a classy moment this week, which I think reflects Manchester United more than anything. My wife got a call from Norma Charlton, Bobby Charlton’s wife, to ask her to go to the game. That was the way of the Manchester United. That was the sort of thing, the class, and that was shown by Sir Bobby Charlton’s wife.”