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Fulham: Still no Liverpool bid for Dempsey

Clint Dempsey has had his head turned by Liverpool's interest, according to Martin Jol © PA Photos

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Fulham have denied rejecting a Liverpool bid for Clint Dempsey, just hours after the player turned down a move to Aston Villa.

Liverpool - who have been linked with a move for the US international throughout the summer - were reported to have tabled their offer, only to see it turned down by the Londoners.

Villa had a bid, thought to be around £7 million, for the forward accepted, but 29-year-old Dempsey is holding out for a move to Anfield. Insiders at both Fulham and Liverpool, however, have told ESPN that no offer has been lodged.

Liverpool have spent much of the summer chasing Dempsey, sparking an angry reaction from Fulham manager Martin Jol after the player went on strike on the eve of the new season.

Fulham complained to the Premier League last month over remarks made about Dempsey by Brendan Rodgers, who told a press conference that Liverpool were interested in signing the forward.

However, Cottagers manager Martin Jol insisted no Liverpool offer had been received at any stage, and Fulham believe Rodgers contravened Premier League rules by publicly revealing his club's interest in the player.

A Premier League statement said: "The Premier League has received a complaint from Fulham FC regarding certain comments made by Liverpool FC officials, and is currently looking into the matter."

The issue was sparked by a story on a website belonging to Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group that implied that Dempsey was to become a Liverpool player. Although the story was swiftly taken down, Rodgers, speaking during his club's American tour, told a press conference: "Clint is a player we've enquired about - it is as simple as that. 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."

Jol recently described the situation as "almost embarrassing" and claimed Dempsey had told people at Fulham that he was going to Liverpool.

Speaking last week, Jol said: "Mentally Clint wants to move - he doesn't want to stay here. His head was turned, and that was the problem.

"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."

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