What’s Going on with Deuce?
One foot out the door?
Fulham F.C. announced today that American international Clint Dempsey will not accompany the club to Switzerland for its preseason training camp and instead will remain in London to train with the club’s youth players. Perhaps anticipating the obvious questions, the club insists that Dempsey is being left behind because he is not in “match shape.” At least to this writer, that makes no sense- he’s being left out of a training camp because he’s not in good enough shape? Isn’t that what training camp is for? Am I missing something here?
There’s been no additional mention of Liverpool’s interest in Dempsey (which was rumored earlier this summer), but the timing of Dempsey being left behind and ofLiverpool having shipped mistake striker Andy Carroll to West Ham United on a season long loan is certainly curious at the very least.
It may be nothing, but I stick by my belief that Dempsey has played his last match for the Cottagers.
Dempsey hasn’t featured in any of the club’s friendlies – but neither has Hugo Rodellega, who is also staying in London to train with the youth team.
I think we’re just looking for dots to connect at this point – and I still think that Dempsey’s ambition for European football will win out. If he goes to Liverpool, he’s paying lip service to that goal – just as he does by staying at Fulham. Another opportunity will arise – maybe Arsenal or another club in need of an offensive spark – and then you’ll see the last of Deuce at Craven Cottage.
The longer this goes on, the more i think he’s going to end up in Italy. No idea why, just a feeling that Fulham can’t get a deal done with any EPL side that meet the right criteria.