Defoe told he can leave

Jermain Defoe has been told by Juande Ramos that he is free to leave the club. Defoe has only started two Premiership games this season whilst his contract is soon to expire; but now Defoe has admitted he wants to sign a new deal but Ramos sees no future for him.

"The manager has said I can leave if I want, but I want to prove him wrong. I want to stay here," the striker told The Sun.

"He called me into his office and told me. At first I thought it was a joke, I thought he was going to say I would be starting against Arsenal in the Carling Cup (on Wednesday) which was why he didn't give me a game against Reading (in the FA Cup) at the weekend.

"But he just said 'You can leave if you want to.' Yet I have no intentions of leaving this club because I love it here.

"I would love to sign a new contract, and I know people at the top of the club want me to stay.

"But no-one can expect me to sign a new deal if I can't get a game!"

Defoe later added: "I train hard, I put plenty of time in the gym and I do power work. I prepare for every game as though I'm going to play, which is obviously the professional thing, and then I don't get a game.

"It's as though I'm doing all of this for nothing. But I have still been taken aback.

"It's as though I am being punished for doing well. But I want to prove everyone wrong. I don't want to go anywhere.

"I just want to get back into the team and then I will be desperate to sign a new contract.

"I have no desire to play for any club other than Spurs."