Arsene Wenger and Harry Redknapp are continuing to plan for the next season, identifying shortcomings in their respective squads and potential targets to fill them.
The latest bit of news concerning both Arsenal and Tottenham is their rumoured chase of Fulham's star American utility man, Clint Dempsey, who scored a brace in his side's weekend 3-0 win over relegation threatened Bolton.
Dempsey, 29, has one more year left on his contract and, in an ESPN report, Fulham boss Martin Jol admitted he was unsure if he could retain the in-form player. The American has now scored 21 times, in all competitions, for his club this season - an amazing statistic when one considers he does not have a specified position and has played, at various stages in the season, as a midfielder, a winger and a striker.
"I can't foresee the future. We want to keep him and hopefully he wants to stay. We have offered him a very good contract. He knows he is very appreciated at our club, so hopefully he will stay," Jol said in the ESPN report.
Signed from Major League Side New England Revolution in 2007, Dempsey has been valued, at approximately £10 million and in addition to attracting the Gunners and Spurs, a report in The Sun also hints that Manchester United may be interested.
Dempsey himself is reluctant to comment on any rumours, insisting that he would rather conduct talks quietly and get on with his football.
"We'll see what happens. Some of my best memories have been at Fulham. I still have this season and one more at the club. I'm talking with Fulham but we'll see in the summer. I just want to focus on my football and helping the club finish in the top half. That other stuff can take care of itself," the player said, in The Sun's report.
Finally, perhaps in an implicit recognition of Dempsey's departure, Jol talked up his star's value, comparing his goal-scoring feats with present Liverpool forward Luis Suarez (whom Jol managed while the two were at Ajax).
"If we want to be a top side we need players who can score more than 20 goals in all competitions. I have always had that - I can remember Luis Suarez scoring 53 goals for me at Ajax. He's (Dempsey) not at that level yet but of course it is a different league and, for a wide midfield player who can play up front and score that many goals, it is unbelievable," Jol commented.
The clearest indication that Dempsey may not be at Craven Cottage next season comes from a note in a report by the Daily Mail, which says the player has "admitted he could leave Fulham at the end of the season and refused to sign a new contract until the summer".
