Why Clint Dempsey Must Find a New Club on Transfer Deadline Day

What initially started as a feel-good moment for Clint Dempsey has ended up growing long in the tooth, and it is time the Dempsey saga ends.

Before the season even began, the rumblings that Dempsey was on his way out were out there, and there was a positive reaction from most. It was nice to see a U.S. player perform so well on one of soccer's biggest stages. Now he could have a shot with a bigger club, or so we thought.

As reported by the Guardian, Dempsey has been fined for refusing to play for Fulham.

It is time this whole debacle ends, with the result being Dempsey landing on another club's roster.

After his rocky start to the season, it will be tough for Dempsey to return to Fulham, and he does not want to. He has made that clear.

Fulham manager Martin Jol said, “Clint told everyone he was going to Liverpool before he came back so we really thought there was quite a firm interest in him.”

If only that interest had turned to an actual transfer then we would not have been a witness to this mess.

Dempsey needs to find a new club for a fresh start. Returning to Fulham will do him no good. He has maxed out his potential with the squad, and this mess has only turned the fans against Dempsey.

He needs to find a new club to continue being the excellent player that he is. If Dempsey were to stay at Fulham, he would become stagnant. That is not what anyone wants. Especially not U.S. soccer fans, who have witnessed how the Premier League has made Dempsey a much better player for the national team.

His talents should be welcomed by many different clubs. Knowing that he wants out, they should make a push to acquire his skills. Dempsey has highlighted Liverpool for quite some time, and this should have been a done deal by now.

The feet-dragging must stop. No one benefits from this being dragged out. Not Dempsey, not the management, and certainly not the fans.

These hold-outs benefit no one.

If Liverpool is the place for Dempsey, then let's expedite the process and get him in red. If another team is interested, then let them step up to the plate now and make Dempsey their key acquisition. The sooner they add him to their roster the sooner he can contribute on the pitch. And isn't that what matters most?

Whatever the solution is, one can hope it is just around the corner. Fans want to see his talents on the pitch in a competitive atmosphere. Fans do not want contractual drama.

And with the Spurs picking up Moussa Dembele from Fulham (h/t ESPN), it is even less likely that Dempsey will want to return to the club. It should be a matter of execution at this point. Accept a bid for Dempsey and move forward.

Dempsey must find a new club soon. The faster it happens the sooner everyone can move on.