With Bradley's move to Roma getting its own thread, we might as well start one to keep an eye on Dempsey's possible move. The Daily Mail (a gossip rag if there ever was one) reported yesterday that Liverpool made a 10 million pound bid, and hoped the deal would be done by the end of the week. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2175089/Liverpool-Clint-Dempsey-10m.html NESN (owned by Fenway Sports Group that also owns Liverpool) reported that the deal was done yesterday.................but they took down the story a couple of hours later. Fulham are currently denying the report via the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18886354 There has also been twitter activity indicating it may not be true: James Pearce @JamesPearceEcho Been told that reports suggesting #LFC have agreed £10m fee for Clint Dempsey untrue. Where there's smoke there's usually fire. Clint is on the last year of his deal, and has made no secret of the fact he wants to move to a "bigger club." Fulham need to sell him now or risk losing him for nothing after the season.
While I'm guessing this is just a joke on Liverpool's underperformance in recent years, Liverpool is undeniably a bigger club than Fulham. Even with underperforming, they've finished above Fulham for the past 3 years, and odds are definitely on them to finish above them again. In terms of money, Forbes still lists their value as 8th in the world: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbes'_list_of_the_most_valuable_football_clubs. Of course we'd probably prefer a move to Arsenal or Man City, but Liverpool is still a move to a bigger club for sure. I'm hoping it happens.
This was also reported last week. Supposedly, Liverpool offered £7.5M and Fulham wanted £10M. The Fulham supporter I work with is resigned to Dempsey going somewhere, as long as it is not Chelsea (who do not want him).
This column on Cottagers Confidential pretty much sums up the situation: http://www.cottagersconfidential.co...clint-dempsey-gone-to-liverpool-fenway-fulham [It's short so I'll post the whole thing.] Mixed reports have been revealed today over the future of Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey after Fenway Sports confirmed the Amercian as a Liverpool player, only for Fulham to swiftly deny this was the case. A statement was released from Fenway Sports Group, the company in control of Liverpool, which spoke of two additions to the squad - namely, Fabio Borini and Clint Dempsey - ahead of their tour of North America. However, the article has now been amended and Dempsey's name removed. You can find that here. Following this revelation, an FFC source quickly moved to quash the suggestion that a deal has already been agreed. Instead, he told talkSport, no bid has even been made for the midfielder's services. More than likely, the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle - as it always does. No matter how arrogant or slow, it is unlikely that Fenway would make such a conformation public without at least an inkling of belief that he will sign for them over the coming days. There have been strong claims over the course of the evening that a £10 million bid from Anfield has been placed and that Fulham will not take long to mull over it - especially considering Dempsey could leave for nothing in a year's time. However, the statement would not have been amended if there was substantial truth behind it. What this all means is that things are still finely in the balance. Dempsey will probably go, so much seems obvious now, but it's a case of when and for how much.
I've always wondered if Dempsey really meant it when he always answered speculation about moving from Fullham with the statement that he wanted to play CL football. He seemed to be saying he would make a move if it meant CL football. Going to Lpool means n o t playing CL football. Now, he must have known that his chances with an EPL CL team were scant, so maybe he was hoping for a bid from a continental team. The only hope in EPL is Arsenal, only if RVP leaves, because the only spot in the formation Dempsey could be played would be CF, and then he has to prove he is better than Giroud to get playing time. There's no room at Man U/Man City and Chelsea wants another vibe. That's it for CL in EPL. I don't follow this stuff very much but is there any interest from the Continent? I haven't seen any. OTOH, if he really is set on leaving Fullham, I think he would thrive at Everton and Newcastle and both could get in the top four when/if Arsenal and Spurs stumble - not so unlikely with a new manager at Spurs and RVP reportedly wanting out at Arsenal.
Against my better judgment, I can't help but respond to what's likely obvious trollling. Liverpool is one of the biggest and most storied clubs in the world. It's value is likely somewhere in the neighborhood of 5 to 10 times that of Fulham and it is currently listed by Forbes as the 8th most valuable soccer team in the World (valued around 620 million dollars). It's harder to find info for Fulham but in 2010, when Fulham had income around 53 million pounds, Liverpool had income of around 304 million dollars. Liverpool has won the first division 18 times, the Champions League/Euro 5 times [only behind Madrid and Milan] and the Uefa Cup 3 times. Though Liverpool has not won the premier league, they've finished 2nd twice and third 5 times. They've won the FA Cup 7 times. In comparison, Fulham has done none of these things (though in fairness, they've managed to be runners up in a number of contests, among them the noteworthy MLS All-Stars Challenge in 2005). I love Fulham [due exclusively to McHead and Deuce, et al] but its silly to suggest that they exist anywhere on the same plane as Liverpool.
You can only go where you're wanted. If the press is to be believed, Liverpool are aggressively pursuing Dempsey.................while other clubs aren't. Everton can't compete financially with Liverpool. Might as well stay at Fulham............. Another bidder may come into the picture in the near future. We'll see. However if the pricetag is 10 million pounds, that takes quite a number of clubs out of the picture. That's quite a pile of cash. I believe the record transfer fee for an American born player is Guissepe Rossi at 10 million Euros. That's only about 6.6 million pounds. While Liverpool isn't in the Champions League next season, they're a "Champions League club." They've played in the competition 20 times.............including winning 5 times. And we're talking about a club that's routinely competing for the domestic cup trophies in England. They've been a bit down recently, but they have the pockets to pick themselves back up again. We'll see what happens.
Two things working against Dempsey on the transfer market: 1. He is not young. 2. He does not come with a neatly packaged position. Clubs have to figure out how and where they will use him. The bigger clubs are often looking for those final puzzle pieces. They have a system in place and are looking for those one or two players to complete it. If the final piece of your puzzle is "sometimes sort of a pseudo-striker who drops back deep into midfield, and other times kind of a wide player who spends little time on the wing, but unpredictable, cocky, and determined enough to force his way into your lineup" then Dempsey is your man.
Liverpool is undoubtedly a bigger club than Fulham. I think for Dempsey it's a great move (if it turns out Daily Mail got lucky in guessing this one). Now, I hate Liverpool (Man U fan), but this would definitely be a step up...
In a very very short sighted view, Liverpool are not a big club right now. The big clubs play CL football, and LFC is out for 12-13, and has very little chance of qualifying for 13-14. Demps has already been in UEFA Cup/Europa League and should hold out for a CL chance.
We'll see. Will a club the size of Liverpool be interested next off-season when his contract expires? Who knows............ What if he gets injured? What if he has a subpar season compared to his last one? You've gotta strike while the iron is hot, and it may never get hotter than it is right now. As you're holding out for a club "currently playing in the CL" you may miss out on the opportunity to play for Liverpool.........which is a damn, damn big club.
I hate to be picky, but Liverpool and Arsenal actually tied last season, with 52 points in the EPL. That being said, that's high end play for Fulham. Liverpool is able to spend the money needed to improve. Someone else mentioned that Dempsey said he'd only leave Fulham to play Champions League. I believe what he actually said was for the chance to play in the Champions League. While Liverpool will only be Europa League next year, they have the potential to contend for the following year's Champions League, with a few moves. Fulham's best hope will always be Europa League. If he really wanted to play in a top 3 or 4 league, while also playing Champions League now, teams like Malaga, Udinese, Schalke or Moenchengladbach might be options, but Liverpool has more money and provide a more sustainable option for Champions League play, in the future. Most of all, he'll make more money at Liverpool than he will anywhere else in the world, and this is probably his last chance to sign a huge contract.
DidI just read Liverpool are not a bigger club than Fulham? Hahaha right...what a joker. Would be a good move for liverpool seeing as they'll player the 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 next season which will suit dempsey. Potentially dempsey-borini-suarez upfront plenty of movement and ability in that.
I wonder where he will play. A striker or at LM? -----------Carroll------Saurez----------- -Dempsey--Gerrard--Adam--Downing- or ----------------Suarez-------------------- ----Dempsey-----------Downing--------- ---------Gerrard-----Adam--------------- -----------------Lucas--------------------- That is a pretty good line-up I must admit. Rumors that Carroll will be loaned though could mean Dempsey is looked at as a striker.
I don't think downing will feature that much if they buy dempsey, rodgers will play borini ahead of him.
Newcastle is a team full of badasses who get the ball forward. Last year, first half, they had Dembe Ba to feed. In the second half they acquired Cisse. Dempsey is perfect as the scorer who reads the attack and goes into the crease where Cisse isn't, as 2nd striker. He's just much better at that kind of role than Dembe Ba who just stands in one place wondering where his position went as Cisse roolz.
I don't think it to mean CL football or nothing. I think his desire was to CL Football. When a good situation for CL football doesn't materialize you take the next best logical move. In this case Liverpool.
Would Rogers be a good coach for furthering Clint's development as a player in the premiership and USMNT? I have a high opinion of Jol and his systems of play he has employed. How much has Jol meant to Clint's increased production this year or has Clint just improved his play on his own wit? Which coach (Champions league teams like Arsenal, Man City, etc) would be the best for Clint?
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/liverpool-contact-fulham-dempsey-205143609--sow.html Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says his club has spoken to Fulham about signing U.S. forward Clint Dempsey. Rodgers says ''Clint is a player we've inquired about'' as ''he's a very talented player,'' adding that managing director Ian Ayre has been in contact with Fulham ''to see what the position is. That is where we're at.''