Fulham are planning to sign former midfielder Clint Dempsey on loan in the January transfer window, as they look to avoid relegation from the Barclays Premier League.
The former Craven Cottage favourite, who currently plays for the Seattle Sounders in the MLS is set to return to English shores with Fulham, as the MLS season has now concluded.
Dempsey was in London yesterday finalising a move which would see the Texas born 30 year old join the club were he spent five successful years at, playing under the managerial guidance of first Roy Hodgson, and then Martin Jol, who was recently sacked by the west London outfit.
Dempsey left the club in the summer of 2012, before spending a year at Tottenham Hotspur, then returning back to his homeland.
Dempsey, who joined the Seattle Sounders last summer, favours a return to the Barclays Premier League over spending January and February training with his USA team-mates in Brazil and Southern California.
The forward negotiated a clause in his contract with the Seattle Sounders to allow him to go on loan from January 1 until the end of February, with general manager Adrian Hanauer admitting the move to England looks likely.
The move for Dempsey is aimed at getting match fitness in time for this summers World Cup Final’s in Brazil, as the Major League Soccer campaign will not kick off until early March, running until mid November, depending on weather clubs reach the MLS Cup final.
Dempsey joined Fulham in 2007, from MLS side New England Revolution, and went on to be a crowd favourite , helping the club avoid relegation in the 2007/2008 campaign, and even guiding Hodgson’s men to a UEFA Cup Final, where they finished runners up to Atletico Madrid.
The passionate American will hope to sparke a recovery in the Fulham camp, as they look to aviod relegation.
The forward’s versatility, work ethic and eye for goal could play a crucial role in the club’s relegation fight, particularly if Dimitar Berbatov forces a move in January.
Fellow London club West Ham United are also keen on capturing Dempsey for a short term move, with Sam Allardyce searching for a player who can turn the Hammers League fortunes around.
But Fulham looks to be Dempsey’s chosen destination.
Dempsey could be joined from the MLS by Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane, with the two strikers having enjoyed loan spells in England, whilst plying their trade in America, Donavon enjoyed two successful spells at Everton, with Keane spending three months on loan at Aston Villa in 2012.
By Ben Reardon
@BenReardon1
