FORMER Tottenham Hotspur and Rangers striker Jermain Defoe has been backed to join Charlton Athletic.

The 39-year-old striker is without a club since leaving Scottish giants Rangers.

Defoe started his career at the Addicks before he left as a 16-year-old to join West Ham United.

The striker is now looking for his next step in his career and his former side could offer him an ideal opportunity,

Speaking on TalkSport's Thursday’s White and Jordan show, former Crystal Palace chairman Jordan said: “Football is built upon relationships, and he [Defoe] played at Tottenham with Johnnie Jackson, and I assume that there’s still a relationship there.

News Shopper: Jermaine Defoe is currently without a club since leaving RangersJermaine Defoe is currently without a club since leaving Rangers

“I think it might be an interesting move if coming back to London is on his agenda to go to Charlton. Now I realise it’s League One, it’s not necessarily where Jermain might want to play, but he is 39 years of age.

“He’s not going to play in the Premier League, with the greatest respect, he might struggle at times to get a full-time gig in the Championship, just purely and simply because it’s a hard and fast division.

“Building a career and a management career, coaching career and going into a project with Thomas Sandgaard and with Johnnie Jackson currently in situ, it kind of feels like it might be a fit there.”

The Addicks are currently 14th in Sky Bet League One after a poor start, and despite a potential play-off push looking likely following an improvement in form under new boss Jackson, they have now started to struggle in front of goal.

In the last three games, Charlton have only netted on one occasion.

Charlton’s top scorer Jayden Stockley is currently sidelined with a hip injury, so Defoe could prove to be a welcome solution to their goal scoring woes.

Defoe has scored 284 in 723 club appearances during his career.