Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey has been ordered to train on his own by Fulham as his dream move to Liverpool stands on the brink of collapse.
Dempsey has been told by manager Martin Jol to stay away from the first-team squad while he awaits developments on the transfer front. He was left behind to train with the Fulham youth sides are pulling out of the first team’s pre-season tour to Switzerland.
The American international’s hopes of move to Anfield have been dashed as Brendan Rodgers has yet to follow him his public expressions of interest in the player with a formal bid. Liverpool are understood to be considering a number of potential alternatives in the attacking midfield position after realising that luring Dempsey from London will not prove as straightforward as they initially thought.
Dempsey has now been told to keep himself to himself as Fulham do not want to disrupt their first team preparations ahead of the new season. Jol is not considering selecting the Texan-born midfielder at any point before the transfer window closes. The pair had a robust exchange of views after Dempsey refused to travel to Switzerland having turned down Fulham’s offer of a new three-year contract. The former New England Revolution man is desperate to join Liverpool, believing this may be his last chance to join a leading Premier League side.
Fulham value Dempsey at about £9m but his age and the fact that he has just a year to run on his current deal means they could accept an offer of around £5m. While the Whites don’t want to lose one of their key players, they are keen to have enough time in the transfer window to sign a replacement if necessary.
