Clint move would make Reds boss Rodgers’ day
Speculation has been rife this summer that the 29-year-old is set to link up with the Reds, which was fuelled yesterday by a report on the club owner’s official website that suggested a deal was complete.
An article linked to the Fenway Sports Group (FSG) home page, www.fenwaysportsgroup.com, said Liverpool had “added Clint Dempsey to a team that came within a game of winning the FA Cup”.
Any mention of Dempsey, who has a year left on his contract, was later removed from the article hosted on FSG-owned website www.NESN.com.
But Rodgers admitted last night that Liverpool are interested in bringing the player to Anfield.
“Clint is a player we’ve enquired about, it is as simple as that,” said Rodgers. “Ian Ayre, our managing director, has spoken with the club to see what the position is. That is where we’re at.
“He’s a very talented player but we don’t like to talk about other clubs’ players.”
Rodgers’ remarks are unlikely to go down well at Fulham, who had earlier issued a hands-off warning to suitors of the American.
“We have received no offers from any club for Clint Dempsey,” a club spokesman said. “We would discourage any club from making a bid for him.”
Rodgers, meanwhile, says Liverpool are not planning to let Andy Carroll, who has been linked with a return to Newcastle, leave on loan — at least for the moment.
“There has been a lot written and spoken about him but first and foremost Andy is a Liverpool player,” Rodgers said.
“To consider a loan period for someone the club spent £35 million on isn’t something we’re looking to do at this moment in time.
“Andy will be the same as every other player — if there’s ever an offer that comes in we’d look at it as a club and see if it’s going to be worthwhile for the club and the team as a whole.
“The club invested £35m in him. People talk about whether he can fit into my style or not, but if you’re a club and you spend £35m on a player you’d like to think he can fit into whatever style the team plays.
“He’s a good player. He’ll join the rest of the group next week and we’ll take it from there.”
Rodgers has also been linked with a move for Swansea midfielder Joe Allen, whom he worked with during his spell at the Swans.
However, it is understood Swansea have not received any offers for the 22-year-old.
The player signed a new four-year contract last summer but Rodgers is a keen admirer of the Wales international and reports have linked the Reds with a £15m deal.
But it is understood there has been no contact from Liverpool, or any other club, over a possible move for Allen.
When Rodgers left for Anfield, Swansea insisted on a 12-month agreement preventing the Irishman from stripping the club of their best players. But it is understood if Swansea were to accept a bid from another club for a player, then Liverpool would be free to join the chase.
Meanwhile in South Africa last night, Alex Ferguson has claimed he is happy for Dimitar Berbatov to stay at Manchester United but accepts why the Bulgarian wants to leave.
“The boy has a future, but if he wants to leave it is a different matter,” said Ferguson.
“I am easy about it if he stays. I would be happy with that But if someone comes in and Dimitar wants to leave, we will assess it.”
Rivals Manchester City, meanwhile, have rejected talk that striker Edin Dzeko is bound for AC Milan.
With City looking set to lodge a bid for Arsenal’s Robin van Persie, it would appear manager Roberto Mancini has too many forwards at his disposal.
And, following Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s big-money move to Paris St Germain, AC Milan are in the hunt for a new striker.
The link is an obvious one.
An agent claiming to be acting on behalf of Dzeko yesterday stated a deal for the striker to join Milan had a “70%” chance of going through.
This is news to City though, who have never heard of Sead Susic and have not asked anyone to negotiate Dzeko’s transfer on their behalf.
“The club have no knowledge of the so-called spokesman Mr Susic, nor has it given a mandate to any third party to discuss the transfer of Edin Dzeko, who remains a Manchester City player,” said a City spokesman.
Elsewhere yesterday, West Ham completed the signing of attacker Modibo Maiga from Sochaux.
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