Clint Dempsey Staying With Fulham...For Now
By Ty Duffy
The 29-year-old has been linked heavily with Liverpool this summer. Fulham reportedly offered Dempsey plus cash to the Reds for Andy Carroll. Fenway Sports Group’s own site jumped the gun on his signing early this morning. Posting how they were interested on their own website seems to be a clear indicator of interest.
Dempsey’s desirable qualities are well known. He is coming off a monster, 28-goal season last year. The troubles are his advancing age and his inflated value for Fulham, significantly more than most clubs would be willing to pay. Fulham want a reported $11 million for Dempsey, who will have little to no value at the back end of his next contract. That plus a bump in wages would price out many teams, such as Arsenal. Liverpool, with wealthy American owners desperate to revamp the squad, is the most probable exception.
Liverpool, one of the most prestigious clubs in European soccer, would be a significant step up for Dempsey. The club finished level on points with Fulham last season, though that was one of Fulham’s best seasons in modern history and one of Liverpool’s worst. It is not the Champions League destination Dempsey was seeking, but it is a club that can get there should it reach its potential. Liverpool won the trophy in 2005 and reached the final as recently as 2007.
[Photo via Getty]