Goal.com

Wantaway midfielder will be kept separate from the first-team squad as his future remains up in the air, but the Merseysiders are undecided about making a move for the American

EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent

Clint Dempsey has been ordered to train on his own by Fulham as his dream move to Liverpool stands on the brink of collapse, Goal.com can reveal.

Dempsey has been told by manager Martin Jol to stay away from the first-team squad while he awaits developments on the transfer front.

As revealed by Goal.com last week, the USA international was left behind to train with the youth team in London after pulling out of the club's pre-season training camp in Switzerland.

But Dempsey’s hopes of Liverpool following up their enquiries for him with a concrete bid have failed to materialise and the midfielder has been left in limbo by the Merseysiders.

The 29-year-old has made it clear to Jol and senior Fulham figures that he wants to quit the club for Liverpool, whose manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted that he has made enquiries about signing the player.

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DEMPSEY'S FULHAM RECORD
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"Liverpool are now undecided whether they think the Dempsey move is right," a source told Goal.com. "There is some doubt whether, at his age, he can deliver the consistency of performance for the next few years."
 
It is understood that Dempsey, who is fully fit and not carrying an injury, took part in a number of sessions with the youth team at Fulham's Motspur Park training base at the start of last week before being told to train on his own.

The senior squad has now returned to London and Dempsey will be kept apart from the first teamers in the build-up to the new Premier League season.

Insiders have told Goal.com that Dempsey is not expected to figure in Jol's plans for the curtain-raiser at home to Norwich City on Saturday week, or at any point until the transfer window closes.

Jol will pick a young team for the pre-season friendly at MK Dons on Tuesday night but is set to select a full-strength team against Charlton Athletic minus Dempsey, and that will give a strong indication of his starting XI for the Norwich match.

Dempsey told Jol 11 days ago that he did not want to take part in the Switzerland trip, which led to a heated debate between the player and manager at the training ground.

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As revealed by Goal.com last month, the attacking midfielder, who scored 17 Premier League goals last season and 23 in all competitions, has rejected Fulham's offer of a new three year-contract that includes an option for a fourth year.

Dempsey, who moved to west London five-and-a-half years ago, believes that Liverpool's interest could be the last opportunity he gets to play for one of the elite Premier League clubs.

Fulham value Dempsey at £9 million but a combination of his age – 29 – and his contract situation – he has just entered the final year of his current deal – mean that they will settle for a fee of around £5-6m.

The Londoners do not want to lose their free-scoring midfielder but also will do their best to avoid a protracted saga, so they have enough time to bring in a replacement.

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