Dempsey future still unclear

Fulham manager Martin Jol has confirmed that no bids have been made for want-away midfielder Clint Dempsey.

Dempsey, 29, scored 17 Premier League goals in the previous campaign and has been linked with a move, with Liverpool thought to be the main contenders.

However, Jol recently claimed that the Reds had made no bid, and that the situation was ’embarrassing’.

“There is one season to go on his contract and no-one has come in for him,” the Fulham boss told reporters after his side’s 5-0 thrashing of Norwich City to open the new season.

“To say he refused to play is probably a bit harsh but he wanted to move. If you want to move, you don’t want to take risks so you don’t want to play in case you get an injury.

“For me that was a very awkward situation and it was for him as well. There is nothing on the table from Liverpool. Maybe Clint knows more than us but we feel he should stay if there is no other bid.”

Dempsey was absent from the Cottagers’ matchday squad for the win over Norwich, after reportedly refusing to play again for the club as he looks to force an exit from the club.

Cottagers fans sang ‘Are you watching Clint Dempsey?’ towards the end of the game, but Jol feels the chants were unfair.

“I don’t want to hear the fans chanting against him because he was a terrific player for us,” the Dutchman said.

“He was the most productive midfield player in the whole league last season and hopefully he will play for us again.”

Fulham were rampant in their opening fixture, and their manager was pleased to get off to a winning start.

“We did well,” said Jol. “We let the ball do the work and we were very good to watch.”

Opposite number Chris Hughton was left downtrodden after the loss, admitting that Norwich simply put in ‘a poor performance’.

“We held our own in the first 25 minutes but the first two goals were poor to concede,” he told BBC Sport.

“You can’t put in a performance like we did against a team like Fulham and come away with anything other than defeat.”

Norwich conceded two goals in the first half before letting three more into the back of the net after the break, despite the introduction of Steve Morison to help out Grant Holt, who had played as a lone striker.

“That changes things. You come out second half and you have to open up a bit more and we changed the shape to try to get back in the game but we came up against a very good Fulham team,” Hughton said.

“Defensively we were not good enough and we need to get back to basics and look to make amends next week.

“When we keep our shape and do the good things like we did in that first 25 minutes then we give ourselves a chance.

“It is the first day of a new season and we’ve got to pick everybody up and look for the positives and make sure that result and performance gives everyone the kick that will push us on.

“It was a poor performance. I don’t have to tell the players again and again. They know that.”