Fulham manager Martin Jol is confident of being able to convince Clint Dempsey to stay at Craven Cottage after the American notched another goal in his outstanding season against Norwich City at the weekend.
Nobody needs reminding of Dempsey’s continuing importance at Fulham, with his current form far removed from his fight to establish himself as a first-team regular under previous managers. The Texan attacking midfielder is only third to Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie in the 2012 goal charts and Jol was fully appreciative of Dempsey’s effort as Fulham edged to a 2-1 win over the Canaries on Saturday.
He’s our top scorer and that tells you everything. If you have a striker who scores more than 15 in a season you will always be high in the table.
Dempsey has sixteen months left on his current contract and, despite media whispers linking him with a move away from the Cottage, Jol thinks the 29 year-old’s career would be best served by staying in south west London.
We have offered Clint an improved deal and I hope I can convince him he should stay with us for another couple of years. There are not many players who have left Fulham over the last few years who did well. He is a regular here; at a different team, maybe a top four team, I’m not sure.
It’s the sort of principle of this club and I think it pays off. How many players will go on a free? I can’t predict the future but I hope he will stay.
I think if you come to our lodge, the grass is very green and there are not a lot of players over the past five or six years to have left Fulham and done well.
