Clint Dempsey: American Is Missing Piece to Make Liverpool Contenders

After a 2011-2012 English Premier League season in which Liverpool finished in eighth place and was 11th in goals scored, The Reds are in desperate need of some added offensive punch, and the club may well have found some in a player from a country that isn't exactly known as a soccer hotbed.

A transfer that would send 29-year-old American Clint Dempsey from Fulham to Liverpool appears to be in the works and could be completed in the next few days. The move may also involve a swap that would send Charlie Adam to the Cottagers in return.

Nothing is definite at this point, however, as Fulham has denied that any agreement has been reached, telling the Daily Mirror that Dempsey "is not for sale and that they hope to tie the 29-year-old to a new deal."

However, there's been an awful lot of smoke here, and generally that indicates that there's a fire nearby. New Liverpool coach Brendan Rogers was somewhat evasive in regards to the potential acquisition of Dempsey, relaying to the Daily Mail only that the team has some interest in him.

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"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."

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However, assuming that at some point this transfer is completed, it would appear to be a great move for The Reds. Adam was a huge disappointment last year at Anfield, falling out of favor after scoring only six goals in 27 appearances.

Dempsey, on the other hand, led Fulham last year with 23 goals. It may not be reasonable to expect Dempsey to approach that number again for the Reds, but he would not only provide Liverpool with some added scoring punch, he would add versatility to the lineup as well, given that he's capable of playing both midfielder and striker.

With the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and the Manchester powerhouses all spending money hand over fist to acquire top talent, it's become an uphill struggle for clubs like Liverpool to assemble a side that not only can compete in the English Premier League, but also can advance to take part in the UEFA Champions League.

That makes it essential that the Reds capitalize on any opportunity that presents itself for the club to get better, and a Dempsey-for-Adam swap would certainly seem to be a step in the right direction in that regard.

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