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Dempsey earned a big move

By Rob Milne

Every year since Clint Dempsey’s arrival at Fulham there has been a gradual improvement in his game, with his goals tally increasing every passing year. In the current 2011/2012 season Dempsey has shown signs of brilliance and his performance level has been higher than anyone with an interest in Football would have perceived. This season he has surpassed Louis Saha’s club record 13 goals in one season at Fulham with time still to spare and has become the spearhead of Fulham’s attack, currently sitting on 16 league goals and 22 in all competitions. So surely Clint Dempsey has earned himself a shot at ‘the big time’ and a move should be on the cards to one of the ‘big teams’ in English football.

The Cottagers will not want to let Dempsey go but in some cases a player must be allowed to leave to further their career and no doubt the American has the ability to have a substantial impact on one of the top teams. They would receive a substantial sum, certainly greater than the £2 Million they bought him for in 2007 from New England Revolution, perhaps enough to buy multiple players or one figurehead star to truly put Fulham on the map. If any player deserves their ‘big break’ it should be Dempsey, a player who has clearly always had the talent, the attitude and no doubt the toughness, playing in 2004 with a broken jaw for two games. In the past year he has become a potent force in front of goal and rather than being a versatile attacking midfielder has become in many ways Fulham’s primary goal getter. Dempsey has risen to be one of the most feared attacking forces in the premier league.

Above all other teams I can see Dempsey slotting nicely in to the current Chelsea team, who are currently in transition. Chelsea are a team struggling for goals and Dempsey will be able to supply that. Also they like to play an attacking midfielder just in front of the two holding players, in the hole,  Dempsey’s primary position and would be give Chelsea a player who can rotate around the ageing Frank Lampard. Dempsey will be given a chance to prove himself with a worldwide franchise and be involved in one of the greatest names in European football, that’s if Chelsea even make the UEFA Champions league this season with tough competition for 4^th place. The move would also be strong for Dempsey’s personal life, as his new club would be situated just down the road. Although this brings another problem to the forefront, a move to a local rival could upset the Fulham supporters who have supported Dempsey with passion for the past 5 years. Arsenal are another option but they may be the only other destination as he would not fit into the new youth strategy at Manchester United and to better his career a move to Tottenham or Manchester City would not be a strong choice. Tottenham are now creating a reputation of players going their and simply losing their potential such as Wilson Palacios and even more so recently re-formed Steven Pienaar. Also he simply would not get a game at Manchester City, left to sit on the bench like so many other big stars at the Etihad.

Don’t rule out a move to the newly emerging Newcastle United but perhaps there isn’t a place in that side for him. Although with his quality he could surely fit into any side, especially one of Newcastle’s calibre. Clint Dempsey certainly deserves a big move but come the summer we will see whether he remains loyal to Fulham or takes a move to one of the ‘big boys’.