Jermain Defoe has admitted handing in a transfer request the day after West Ham United were relegated was a mistake.

Defoe told ITV4’s Sports Life Stories: "It was a massive mistake (to hand in a transfer request at West Ham) - I didn’t really want to do it.

"To this day I can imagine West Ham fans look at me and think, "Who does he think he is? How can you do that? You're a Judas". And it's quite sad really because I can honestly say I still love that club.”

Defoe has been unable to cement a regular starting position at Tottenham Hotspur and has only made one Premier League start this season, despite featuring regularly in the Andre Villas-Boas Europa League side.

However, with Hammers main front man Andy Carroll sidelined and other forwards Carlton Cole and Mladen Petric having barren runs in front of goal, West Ham are in the market for a clinical striker.