TORONTO - Toronto FC continues to field calls on Jermain Defoe but, barring the right offer, expects the English striker to report back for duty Jan. 17.A string of English Premier League teams, most in the lower end of the standings, has been linked to the 32-year-old forward but most have seemingly balked at the cost given his wages and transfer fee. Toronto appears willing to sell him at the right price but is not interested in a loan.General manager Tim Bezbatchenko makes no apologies for playing hardball.Its expensive to get a reliable striker who has experience, he said in an interview Thursday. Jermain, for me, when theres a dearth of talent out there, in the January transfer window theres few players that have the pedigree that Jermain has.So it doesnt surprise me that they are after him. But theres a market value for every player. Should someone come with an offer, then obviously wed have to entertain it but right now teams are trying to be clever and of course theyre going to say what theyre going to say to try to get the best deal for themselves. But were not buying.Toronto, it appears, will have no issue with keeping a healthy, motivated Defoe.Jermain, when he wants to play, we think hes a top-three player in the league, Bezbatchenko said.Noting the addition of assistant coach Robin Fraser, who worked with Thierry Henry and Tim Cahill at the New York Red Bulls, Bezbatchenko said were creating an environment that someone like Jermain, I think, can thrive in.The English transfer window closes at the end of the month.Toronto has given permission to Defoe, returning from a groin injury, to train with his former club Tottenham. The one-week training period began Thursday.The club can confirm that Jermain Defoe will train with our development squad for the next week in order to maintain his fitness during the MLS close season, Spurs said Thursday on its website. Toronto manager Greg Vanney called it another preparation step.As of now we look forward to having him here the 17th. Nothing else has changed on any of that side, Vanney told reporters Thursday.Vanney was also not surprised by the interest in Defoe.Hes a good striker and everybody is looking at him. But right now hes with us and we expect right now thats hes back. Because nothings been changed in any of the discussions that have been had.Defoe scored 11 goals in 16 league games for Toronto in an injury-interrupted debut MLS season in 2014.Just touched down in the UK from south of France, was training with my fitness guy feeling stronger than ever! #Ready, Defoe tweeted earlier in the week. His future in Toronto has been up in the air since the MLS club turned down a franchise-record transfer offer at the end of the summer transfer window.Defoe is expected back earlier than most other TFC players because of his injury rehab. The rest will arrive for medicals Jan. 24-25 with the first on-field session Jan. 26.Should Defoe return as planned, Toronto will have a full complement of strikers with Brazils Gilberto, Luke Moore, Robbie Findley, Bright Dike and Jordan Hamilton.Well have to figure out what the best pairing is, said Vanney. Thats what its going to come down to for me.Vanney spoke highly of Findleys work ethic and suggested the eight-year veteran will come to camp with something to prove after a limited role last season with Real Salt Lake.Gilberto, meanwhile, is looking to report in better shape this season than last, with Vanney saying the Brazilian DP got an eye-opener when he arrived last year unfit after a lengthy layoff.He knows that and he felt that was contributing factor to a slow start for him in getting goals, the coach said. I do believe hell show up a lot more motivated and he understands what the challenges are within the league now. He wants to be strong when he gets here.Toronto is one of several MLS clubs said to be interested in U.S international forward Jozy Altidore, currently with Sunderland.Vanney clarified the clubs position somewhat Thursday, saying Toronto is interested in any marquee player returning to the league.Any time a big-time player is coming back to the league, we want to be in the discussion, he said. Theres a lot of mechanisms that have to go in place for a lot of those things to happen ... who knows where that ends up? Were going to be there if theres a discussion to be had. That would be said of any other player who comes back that can add to our roster and make us a better team.With Altidore reportedly looking for designated player status, something would have to give on the Toronto roster with three DPs currently under contract.———Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter. Michael Cooper Lakers Jersey . -- The Orlando Magic finally are showing the patience in critical moments that coach Jacque Vaughn has been waiting for all season. Elgin Baylor Lakers Jersey .Stanton suffered fractures in his face and other injuries when he was hit by a pitch Sept. 11. The Marlins are confident hell fully recover and be ready for spring training, and they hope to reach a long-term agreement with him. http://www.lakersbasketballshop.com/Kurt-Rambis-Jersey/ . Arsenal had already scored its goals in the third round fixture when the fierce rivalry turned ugly in the final ten minutes as Walcott was being carried off on a stretcher. Lance Stephenson Lakers Jersey . Spencer Abbott and Trevor Smith scored third-period goals erasing a 2-1 deficit giving Toronto a late 3-2 lead. Shaquille ONeal Jersey . The 25-year-old Brazilian player has only made four Premier League appearances for United this season and underwent a medical test in Italy on Friday.The Ottawa Senators made a low-risk investment, both in terms of picks and contract, in an effort to boost their offence. Numbers Game looks at the Senators getting Ales Hemsky from the Edmonton Oilers for a pair of draft picks. The Senators Get: RW Ales Hemsky. Hemsky, 30, is not the two-time 70-point scorer that he was earlier in his career, but there are some factors working in his favour, at least in terms of producing more offensively. For one thing, he has good possession numbers while facing high-quality opposition and starting an unsually-low (43.9%) percentage of his shifts in the offensive zone. If the Senators plug Hemskys playmaking skill alongside Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek, that would have to be considered a much better situation for an offensive player than Hemskys role in Edmonton this year, where his most common centre was checker Boyd Gordon. The Senators are in tough to try and get into the playoffs -- four points out with 20 games remaining -- but its not impossible and adding Hemsky does give them a decent chance to have a second productive scoring line. Perhaps the real coup of the deal for the Senators is that they convinced the Oilers to retain half of Hemskys salary and while thats not a huge deal for a pending unrestricted free agent, it makes for a cheap addition of a top six forward. Thhe Oilers Get: A fifth-round pick and 2015 third-round pick.dddddddddddd The net return on this deal is remarkably little for the Oilers. Cumulatively, a fifth and third-round pick brings approximately a 36% chance of landing an NHL player, and that player is likely not going to be in the league for three or four years, at least. Its one thing to roll the dice on a few picks, but to also pick up half of Hemskys cap hit is a tad generous, but this is likely a function of how the Oilers have used Hemsky this season. If he was played in an offensive role throughout the year and put up points, there would be greater demand for his services which would obviously bring a better return. Since Hemsky was effectively playing on the Oilers third line, there is room to plug in the likes of Ryan Jones or Jesse Joensuu to fill the spot. Presumably there will be an attempt in the offseason to find a more suitable top nine forward to fill the void created by Hemskys departure. In any case, the Hemsky Era in Edmonton is over, after 477 points in 652 games, and hes going to have a decent shot to rehabilitate his offensive image before hitting free agency in the summer. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. ' ' ' slow down too much now, to the point that its a bit boring," Hamilton said, adding that he expected a "tough day" during the last practice and the qualifying session on Saturday. The British driver, who crashed during qualifying a week ago for the German Grand Prix in Hockenheim due to brake failure, could be heard complaining about the brakes again during practice over the team radio. Later, however, he did not seem too concerned. "I just had some brake settings that werent great," Hamilton said after the second practice session. "This is a continuing issue we need to work on." Hamilton won four of the first five races of the season, later adding a fifth in at the British Grand Prix. He has 176 points, 14 behind Rosberg and 70 ahead of Ricciardo, the only other winner in 2014. ' ' '