Getty Images Just when we think the Free Clint Dempsey movement has gotten about as messy it can – another muddy shoe falls.
Fulham officials have apparently filed an official complaint to Premiership officials over Liverpool FC’s alleged meddling with a player under contract.
Dempsey has year remaining on his deal at Craven Cottage, but the U.S. international has made no secret of his desire for a move into a bigger club.
(MORE: Clearing salary at Anfield)
This latest southward turn has roots in last July’s erroneous report in a New England Sports website, which is part of the media organization run by Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group, that wildly jumped the gun on a reported Dempsey move to Anfield. The story linked above says Liverpool privately apologized for that.
Apologies or not, Fulham was not happy about it. A sensitive situation deteriorated that much further shortly thereafter, when Liverpool coach Brendan Rodger’s publicly revealed interest in Dempsey’s services – a clear no-no when it comes to players under contract
(MORE: Should Dempsey just honor his contract and be done with it?)
Fulham manager Martin Jol has left the door open for Dempsey to remain at Fulham. But he’s clearly not ecstatic about all this. From today’s piece in The Telegraph:
There are always players in football like Van Persie who want to move, but they keep quiet. This was different. Although we like to keep everything under the surface, it was impossible. Van Persie did the right thing. I always hope for players to keep a low profile. It’s better for the manager and club.”
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- dfstell - Aug 24, 2012 at 12:16 PM
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I honestly feel a little badly for Dempsey with how this has played out. I can understand him wanting to play for a bigger club and wanting to play in Champsions’ League, but there isn’t a clear path to doing that in the EPL. It seems like the only club that’s really sniffed at him much has been Liverpool, but I can’t see why Dempsey would want to go there. They’re just not a Champions League club right now and probably won’t be over the next 3-4 years….and that’s the relevant timeframe for Dempsey to consider. They are a bigger club, but it’s not clear what advantages they’d offer Dempsey right now.
He probably has to leave England to get Champions League but it doesn’t sound like he’s that interested in doing that.
His best option may be to stay at Fulham and explore his options next summer.
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- twalkray - Aug 24, 2012 at 1:42 PM
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I don’t really understand all the ugliness that has come from this, you’d think a guy that has helped Fulham avoid relegation, and help them spur them to new heights, like Dempsey has, would be given just a little bit more respect from the Fulham and their fans.
Jol said he choose to keep Dempsey out of the squad, so I’m not sure how you can blame him too much for not playing. Not to mention that Jol has been more vocal about Clint leaving than the player himself, might want to take your own advice Mr. manager.
And I’m not to sure that RVP comparison is exactly apt either, what with the stinging remarks RVP posted on his website and the fact that moving from Arsenal to Man Utd is just a tad more acrimonious than Fulham to Liverpool
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- seanb20124 - Aug 24, 2012 at 2:38 PM
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Honor contract and leave on a free transfer next year
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- twalkray - Aug 24, 2012 at 3:10 PM
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something tells me that Fulham won’t/can’t pass on the money they could get from the sale of Dempsey, thus the leverage for a move
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- metroplexfrog - Aug 26, 2012 at 11:17 AM
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Dempsey needs to play and, hopefully, he gets his transfer soon. Liverpool doesn’t seem a good fit but you never know.
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