HARRY Redknapp – the man who launched Jermain Defoe’s career – believes the prolific striker would be a perfect fit for Cherries.

The ex-Dean Court boss plucked Defoe from Charlton as a 16-year-old and put him on the road to stardom at West Ham.

Redknapp, who loaned Defoe to Cherries in 2000, also signed him at Portsmouth and Tottenham.

The frontman has been strongly linked with a return to Cherries – with reports suggesting a deal is close to being agreed.

Defoe has a clause in his contract with Sunderland enabling him to leave on a free transfer following relegation.

He netted 15 times for the Black Cats this season and is the seventh highest goalscorer in Premier League history, having plundered 158 in 468 games.

Defoe bagged 19 goals in 31 appearances for Cherries in 2000-01, playing alongside Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall as they went within a whisker of reaching the Division Two play-offs.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Echo, Redknapp said: “Jermain would definitely bring goals to the team.

“He is a fantastic pro and a great lad. He looks after himself, he is an excellent trainer and he would be a great example to everybody around the club.

“He scored goals for Sunderland and, in a team like Bournemouth which creates so many chances, he would score plenty.

“They are certainly not short of frontmen and his addition would give them some strike-force.

“Callum Wilson would have played for England if he hadn’t got injured and Josh King has been amazing. You can never have too many good players.”

Defoe, 34, earned an England recall this season and netted at Wembley in a 2-0 win over Lithuania in March.

And Redknapp was adamant he would be a “great signing” and excellent value for money for Cherries despite his age and wage demands.

“He is as fit as a fiddle,” added Redknapp. “He is not a drinker and is in great shape so age is not an issue.

“I know what he earns at Sunderland and he is on good money. But he is a free so it still works out cheaper than paying £3-4million for someone.”

Defoe first started playing youth football for Senrab, the east London boys’ club formed by Jimmy Tindall, the father of Cherries’ assistant manager Jason, who shared digs with him during his loan spell at Dean Court.

He netted on his debut for Cherries in a 2-1 defeat at Stoke in October 2000, with the visitors’ starting line-up including Howe and six members of his current backroom staff – Tindall, Carl Fletcher, Richard Hughes, Stephen Purches, Steve Fletcher and Gareth Stewart.

Defoe went on to score in 10 consecutive league games and was also on target in a 3-3 draw at Reading on the final day when Cherries just missed out on the play-offs.