Clint Dempsey Omitted from Fulham Squad to Play Man U

Disgruntled American striker Clint Dempsey continues to be left out in the cold at his club.

Fulham manager Martin Jol has omitted the Texan marksman from his squad to face Manchester United on Saturday.

Dempsey has stated that he no longer wishes to play for the Cottagers any further and was the subject of reported “interest” worth $12m from Liverpool.

He played no part in the 5-0 win over Norwich on opening day and did not travel to Switzerland for the club’s training camp.

Liverpool however did not make a formal bid, prefering instead to use the media to circulate news of their interest, an old tactic used by a bigger club to unsettle a target to persuade a smaller club to release him for a lesser fee.

The BBC reports that the complaint refers to Liverpool ownership group Fenway Sports Group (FSG). A report on the FSG website claimed Dempsey had already signed for Liverpool. It lasted five hours before it was removed.

Fulham have lodged a formal complaint about the Reds’ behaviour.

The BBC report adds that ‘Liverpool made an enquiry for Dempsey in June but have not followed up on their interest having baulked at Fulham’s asking price’.

Dempsey is under contract at Fulham, a contract which has a year remaining.

Jol told the press in England:

“Clint feels he needs a move and that move was probably Liverpool, but Liverpool bought new players and no Clint, so we have ended up with a situation with Clint here at Fulham, but he is not committed to the club.”

Liverpool have since held on to striker Andy Carroll despite loan inquiries from Newcastle and West Ham, and are reported to be chasing Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge. Coach Bendan Rodgers added another striker, Italian Fabio Borini as his first signing.

The formal complaint from Fulham seems to have cooled their desire to pursue Dempsey which leaves him in a difficult position.

Having declared his desire to play for Liverpool, the Merseysiders no longer seem to see his acquisition as worth the bother, leaving him under contract at Fulham, a club he no longer wishes to play for.

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