Liverpool transfer focus - Rodgers turns to Dempsey for goals
A report on the website of Liverpool’s owners claimed that the Reds had completed the signing of American forward Clint Dempsey earlier this week, but his club, Fulham, were quickly moved to deny that any deal had been done. In fact, the Cottagers indicated that they had not even received an offer for Dempsey and ‘would discourage any club from making a bid for him’, a statement which will have left the Anfield outfit slightly embarrassed.
Confirming a new signing when any deal is far from done seems to be an amateurish mistake to make, however Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers did later confirm that the club had made inquiries about the United States star. Given the premature statements being made, it would appear as though Dempsey will, sooner rather than later, be making a move to Merseyside.
The reason why Dempsey is a wanted man is because of his attacking threat. The 29-year-old American scored more than 20 goals for Fulham last season and Liverpool would welcome such an addition to their side simply to improve their goals tally. Icelandic attacking midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson was initially the man on the Reds’ radar, but he instead opted for a move to Tottenham Hotspur. A report in the Daily Telegraph suggested that Liverpool would have to part company with around £10m to acquire Dempsey’s services - a fee which would be very reasonable should the forward continue his form from last term.
Rodgers also confirmed an interest in Joe Allen, the young midfielder he managed at Swansea last season. When Rodgers sealed a switch to Anfield earlier this summer, one of the clauses in his compensation package was that he would not be able to bid for any players from the Welsh side for 12 months. But the BBC have claimed that Liverpool would be able to make a move for Allen if another club made a bid for him.
Similarly, it would be difficult for Swansea to keep an unhappy player at the club. However, if Liverpool are to make an offer for Allen, then Rodgers may have to allow one or two from a long list of his other midfielders - including Lucas Leiva, Jay Spearing, Alberto Aquilani, Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson, Jonjo Shelvey, Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole - to leave.
Meanwhile, the future of £35m target man Andy Carroll is still very much up in the air after Rodgers said he would not entertain any loan moves for the Englishman, the Independent noted. Carroll’s former team, Newcastle, reportedly launched a loan bid for the 23-year-old striker earlier this week, but that was rejected, with Liverpool only likely to accept a concrete cash offer for their costliest ever signing.
Rodgers said: “There is talk of him going on loan, but there is absolutely no way I would be looking to loan a player like that, especially after the investment the club have paid.”
“But his condition will be the same as every player. If an offer comes in for any player at the club we would either look at it, or dismiss it, and Andy's no different to that.”
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