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Moyes said: “I want to keep (Patrick), I don't want to sell. There are players who if we got an offer in, I'd consider. Pat is one of the ones we want to keep, we want Pat to be here so unless something absolutely stupid came around then we'll be keeping him.”

Moyes is even more adamant that Defoe, who has 11 goals this season and is the talisman capable of keeping Sunderland up, will not be sold at all.

The Sunderland boss, rubbishing claims there has been a £13m offer from the Hammers, said: “We had an offer and we told West Ham he is not for sale. It has come from the owner. We have never asked for a second bid, or put a price on him at any time.

“He signed a new contract in the summer. He is here and I do not see a big problem with him, he is really important to us. Very little said from Sunderland, the talking has come from other people, not from here.”

Moyes firmly believes Defoe, provided he doesn’t start angling for a switch to the London Stadium, can become a legend at Sunderland by staying on and leading the survival fight.

The 34-year-old has a contract until the summer of 2019 and has scored 33 goals in 74 appearances since moving from Toronto in January 2015.

He said: “I’m not worried. Jermain is very much liked here and is enjoying a purple patch in his career. Hopefully he is enjoying it and is steady with that.”

He added: “Hopefully (Defoe will become a legend at Sunderland), if he carries on scoring at the rate he is, he will be right up there (with Quinn, Phillips etc). I’m sure he wants to get up there among that group.”

There is other interest in Sunderland’s players, injured goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is being monitored by a number of big clubs since breaking onto the first team stage and forcing his way into the England reckoning.

Pickford is, though, sidelined with a knee injury and that could help Sunderland keep him until the summer at least.

Moyes said: “Jordan's doing well, we think he could be ahead of schedule. We don't think certainly it'll be eight weeks, we think it's closer to being six if anything at the moment. He feels good but that can only be tested once he's back at it.

“I've got no interest in selling Jordan at the moment. He's too good, he's a big asset for this club, a really big asset. Because of that, maybe the time will come when we have to do it, but if it comes it'll be a premium.”

Sunderland are still seeking new additions of their own. Moyes said: “We will keep looking to see what we can possibly do, I have asked Ellis. The difficulty is we haven’t got the funds and our position in the league doesn’t help us to attract players but we will keep going.”