Clint Dempsey is in demand from top European clubs.
Praised by the Bleacher Report as the "best American soccer player on the planet", the Fullham's midfielder is having a successful season at the England Premier League, scoring 16 goals so far in the league (ranked 4th together with Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Demba Ba) and 22 goals in all competitions.
As the season is coming near the end, several other top European teams are eyeing the 29-years-old soccer player.
Bundesliga's FC Schalke 04 is one of them. Currently positioned third in the German league, Schlake's Jefferson Farfan may not renew the contract with the team after this season. In addition, Goal.com reported that Dempsey would be a nice partner to their star striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.
Schalke would be an attractive club, since it is almost guaranteed to enter the Champions League next year. Having a U.S. player Jermaine Jones on the team also helps.
In Serie A, AS Roma has been alleged in getting Dempsey. After an American businessman bought the club last summer, a lot of U.S. players have moved to the Italian club. But with their recent poor performance in the league and the questionability of entering next year's Champions League may not worth the gamble of leaving Fullman.
Two teams in La Liga have been rumored to be interested in Dempsey. Sevilla FC, currently ranked eighth in the league, is one of them, but unlikely since coming up with transfer fund for Dempsey is questionable. Valencia CF, after losing star players David Villa and David Silva in the past two seasons, is interested in improving its squad. But the massive debt is still an issue at Valencia, so affording Dempsey may be difficult unless the club gives away Alba and Soldado who have been linked with other clubs. But without Alba or Soldado, would Valencia be as attractive?
The most attractive and like, among the rumored clubs, would be Arsenal FC of the Premier League. Although the club manager Wenger is known for his love of young players, he may be forced to invest some large amount for star players this time. The team has appeared regularly in the Champions League but was without any trophy for the past several years. Also, getting Dempsey would keep the league's top scorer Robin van Persie to remain in the team.
