Fulham boss Martin Jol has offered an olive branch to Liverpool target Clint Dempsey by insisting he would love to keep the forward.
Cottagers manager insists he has no problem with Reds target
Fulham boss Martin Jol has offered an olive branch to Liverpool target Clint Dempsey by insisting he would love to keep the forward at Craven Cottage.
The Cottagers' feud with Liverpool over their pursuit of Dempsey intensified on Thursday evening when the Premier League revealed
an official complaint has been lodged.
Fulham are dealing with the repercussions of the decision by Reds manager Brendan Rodgers to publicly voice his interest in the USA international last month.
Dempsey has been agitating for a transfer to Anfield since, but an official offer for the £7.5million-valued forward has yet to be received, leaving player and coach in limbo.
Fearing that the club's prized asset has been distracted and is unfit to play, manager Jol dropped him for last weekend's 5-0 drubbing of Norwich and will omit him from Saturday's squad to face Manchester United.
The Dutchman is frustrated he has been left with an unsettled player, but admits he would be happy for Fulham's top scorer from last season to stay and insists he has no problem with the American.
"Mentally Clint wants to move, he doesn't want to stay here. His head was turned and that was the problem," said Jol.
"It's a problem and a situation you don't want. It's not something you can talk to a player about every day because he doesn't want to.
"I don't know if he'll remain a Fulham player. I'd love to keep him, but I'm not sure.
No problem
"Hopefully if he stays, then in the next couple of weeks he will change his thoughts about us.
"With me there's no problem and I don't think there's a problem within the team over him."
Jol has advised Dempsey to look to Robin van Persie's £24million move from Arsenal to Manchester United for instruction on how a transfer should be completed.
"There are always players in football like Van Persie who want to move, but they keep quiet," he said.
"This was different. Although we like to keep everything under the surface, it was impossible. Van Persie did the right thing.
"I always hope for players to keep a low profile and wait for what will happen. It's better for the manager and club."
