With the European summer transfer window closing soon, a number of high-profile names are being thrown around as part of rumored moves, and one of those names happens to be U.S. star midfielder Clint Dempsey.
Dempsey is in a favorable spot with Fulham, in terms of playing time and personal success, but he's a hot commodity on the transfer market and has been linked with a number of clubs recently, including Qatari-backed French power Paris-St. Germain and Premier League club Aston Villa.
The latest rumor has Dempsey connected to another London-based club, Arsenal, which is in need of more firepower after losing Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri and is in shopping mode in the aftermath of its embarrassing loss to Manchester United over the weekend.
Of course, there's also the possibility that Fulham doesn't sell and opts to keep Dempsey, who has already tallied three goals in all competitions this season.
Where would you like to see Dempsey go? Cast your vote after the jump:
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How did you vote? Where do you want to see Dempsey wind up?
Share your thoughts below.
I am headed to UK next week for business week and bought a ticket to Fulham-Man City on Sept 17 just to see Clint play! Hope he stays…..
This is why the transfer season is called the Silly Season. All it takes is an “international media outlet to print a rumor like this one: “Dempsey to Arsenal? Your thoughts!” and the next thing you know, five other “international media outlets pick up on it and print the following: “international media outlets link Dempsey to Arsenal!”. Now it’s a fact. Absurd. This is how we wound up fighting the Nazis in Vietnam!
SBI has a piece on it. He played. Bolton got walloped 7-0.
Ahhhhsnil or stay @ FFC. PSG is not a good move, IMO. Nor is Villa.
Donovan could start at Arsenal. He could play the same role for them that he did for Everton, i.e. take over Arshavin’s spot and do it better. Arshavin has been in terrible form for a long time now, Donovan OR Dempsey would be an improvement. And while neither has the speed of Walcott, both bring things to the table that Walcott does not (Landon’s final ball is much better than Theo’s, and Deuce is way better in the air.)
I don’t know if either could unseat Gervinho from the pecking order (haven’t seen enough), but at the very least they’d be heavily in the rotation for either of the two winger roles in the 4-3-3. And that means they could see 30+ matches for a Champions League club. Of course, this is all theoretical, since MLS isn’t letting Landon go anywhere, but I think they’d be the two US players who could make it.
And Arshavin
+2′
Your just mad cuz you can’t even get a call up from Guzman or the kid from Blackburn
Not to mention he has bid twiced over Tim Ream last year. Yeah so that tells me he likes Americans
he should leave the English premiere league, go to the french league or Portugal league and retire there
@OC finally someone else who agrees that Dempsey is World Class.
They are essentially the same team that went to the Europa League final. They handled it pretty well last go around, but they’re a couple years older too.
They should be fine, but I agree that they will have to start moving beyond the current crop of players.
this is silly. clint Dempsey has been a wonderful player for Fulham and the national team. He is truly one of the most creative and best all time greats. I defer to him if he wants to retire i am okay with it. It is one person’s business what Clint dempsey does and I am not giving you hints on who that is.
I agree completely. Even with the summer departures, it may be difficult for him to get any games. I’d rather see him playing then sitting the bench.
A Gunners move would be great, but I think he would have a tough time getting games when you have Ramsey, Walcott, Song, Wilshere (when healthy) in the midfield and Van Persie and Gervinho up front.
“Most people here aren’t interested in what is best for Dempsey’s career, they just want Americans at big clubs. They’re the same people who championed Onyewu’s move to Milan.”
I agree with you about “those people” but
with all due respect, it was Gooch who made the decision about moving to Milan not “those people”. And, while it did not turn out well, that was primarily due to injury so we will never know how well he might have done.
And if Clint moves to Arsenal it will be because he believes he is good enough.
Deuce is a big boy and, with all due respect, he doesn’t need people like you telling him what to do.
Sounders lol. Made my day.
Isn’t it funny then that everyone was/is so worried that Boca, who spent a lot of time at left back for Rennes and St. Etienne would not know what to do with speedy attackers?
Really? The sounders have sixteen million to spend on a transfer fee? From where?
Fulham are thin. They have Johnson and Zamora up top and both are injury prone. Murphy is past it in CAM, and Etuhu has never recovered.
Fulham are also in the UEFA which means more games for an already thin squad.
Arsenal needs center mids much more than a winger. I think if Dempsey went there he would never play.
That being said I would buy a Dempsey Arsenal jersey in a second.
He should go to Barcelona. hahaha
Dempsey to Arsenal would be an interesting thing. He brings a bit more bite to the game than most of the gunners mids have done. As to how well it will work out, assuming he gets playing time, he will still need for the gunners to get some more reinforcements if they are to go far in the CL. Even in the EPL, their defense is suspect and they really need to find replacements for the firepower of Cesc and Nasri,if they are going to be in the top 4. Clint would be only a part of that.
I’d be worried about him moving to PSG. Based on two other teams who have had money pumped in (Chelsea and City), they buy in waves of players, and people who jump on early are at risk to go the way a Damien Duff did for Chelsea.
They make the champions league and suddenly they’re looking at a higher player bracket as far as wages/fees go.
wba … can’t see them going down after their 2nd half last year… no shame in losing 2-1 to Man U and Chelsea so far… though losing at home to Stoke is a bummer.
Was thinking the same thing…
+1
Proven year after year, he continues to add to the goal column year after year. Not to mention, he doesn’t get great service at fulham…
I can’t see Dempsey moving to another team that will not play in the Champions League this year. He specifically mentioned this at the end of last season. Given the fact that Fulham would need a substantial transfer fee to buy the players to replace him, he would need to go to a team with some deep pockets. I would also think he would like to stay in the EPL. That really only leaves the Gunners…or nothing. I think he will stay with the Cottagers
Arsene Wenger.
Well Fulham have apparently splashed 10 million for Bryan Ruiz from Twente. Does this add any fuel to the fire that Dempsey may be moving or just more transfer windlow closing craziness?
I say swansea, wigan, and wba
Where did you get Wenger doesn’t think highly of American Players? I’ve never heard this before, and just last year he wanted to bring Luis Gil into Arsenal’s academy but Gil declined the offer.
Yes, but that’s irrelevant. PSG isn’t eligible this season. It’s more an issue that given their level of spending, it’s hard not to see them as a top 3 side in France next season.
Dempsey is WORLD-CLASS.
He can’t be a Ganso-type player at any club, but he definitely has a SPOT at a top-tier club. And as for your point about turnovers, well, if he has some skill guys to pass it to, who find good space and make intelligent runs, then maybe his pass success rate will go up.
I am fully convinced that Dempsey can be a regular starter at a top tier club. I don’t know why others don’t think he is world-class. I would not support ANYONE else from the USMNT going to Arsenal and trying to start, but Deuce is seriously capable.
Not a matter of having faith in Deuce. It’s a matter of having faith in the coach to remove more expensive players in favor of him.
Wenger’s too proud for that. Honestly, signing Dempsey doesn’t fit his MO, either.
Yes there is. Arsenal’s problem was defense. Not attack. Adding Dempsey does nothing to solve their problem and adds to the logjam of players who are incapable of shielding their back 4.
I’m gonna have to agree with BCC, even though your point is valid. Ligue 1 games are blisteringly fast. I feel that per capita they have the fastest wingers and forwards of any league, but I think I’d be hard-pressed to convince someone who isn’t a fan of the league to agree with me haha
Germany’s Per Mertesacker and Brazil’s Andre Santos are said to be in London for medical checks before signing with Arsenal…
Well, apparently Fulham have agreed to a deal for Ruiz.
I’d like to see him at PSG, or maybe a European contender in either Spain or Italy. Of course Premier League teams will get all the votes in this poll, because that’s what most people here watch. But is it the best fit for Dempsey?
I should have said struggled in matches following Europa League play. I think the club is past it, I really do. They are an aging squad with absolutely no depth. At some point the effects of aging outweigh experience. I think many of their players are at that point. Like I said, I hope they sign some players before the transfer deadline passes. I know they are linked with Ruiz, but will they pay that much? If not, I fear for their safety in the EPL this season. I agree that on paper they should stay up comfortably, but I have a bad feeling about them this year.
Right behind you on that! Even though I swore I wasn’t going to get the new jersey as I just got last year’s, if Clint is in Arsenal red, I will be ordering that immediately
They didn’t “Struggle” in league play. They had their safety ensured pretty early and they focused on Europa once that happened. Didn’t they end up 14th? They did just fine and they have plenty of good players to stay up.
Doesn’t mean they will, but they have more than enough quality to beat the drop. they are a 10-12 side.
They are owned by an American. They will play anybody whose good enough.
He would rank among the great American Arsenal greats…Frankie Simek and Danny Kassaboyon (spelling of coarse) if he transfers. But seriously; imagine Dues with the ball service from Wilshire, RVP, Arshavin and co…A slight bit of an upgrade from Fulham (no offence FFC supporters). Arsenal will be fine and most likely finish in the top five as there are only four teams almost guaranteed for the top 5 (ManC, ManU, Chelsea and Liverpool) the rest is wide open. Just saying.
I also hope that Arsenal doesn’t low-ball as they tend to do.
good point, Spain ’10, Italy ’06 and Brazil ’02 had very few if any EPL players. .. kinda like how its been some time since a UEFA Champions League winner from the EPL.
Arsenal is my team and they need all the darn help they can get. So go Dempsey to Arsenal!
Unless Fulham sign reinforcements they are in trouble. Last time they were in Europa League they struggled in League play…when the squad was deeper and younger. Furthermore, who is going to score? They are completely reliant on the oft injured Bobby Zamora to set up any offense. Andy Johnson can’t score neither can the massively over rated Dembelee. Danny Murphy just looks old. The defense should be solid, but Riise is already injured and Baird wants to leave. Furthermore, the team has been together so long, they have been figured out. Double team Zamora, pressure Murphy, don’t let Duff cut in, and use rough tactics on Dempsey. Fulham stopped. They have been in terrible form since the start of Europa League qualification. I hope they pull through but I have my doubts. Add into it the complete lack of ambition from the Chairman and there are massive problems. However, if they sign a real striker, a creative midfielder, and another defender…they will be fine. But do you really see them doing that?
I posted this on the US Soccer facebook page as a comment, but Allen Hopkins tweeted that he is doubtful whether Dempsey is possibly going to Arsenal because they suck or because he is good.