Spurs Transfer News: Clint Dempsey Joins Seattle Sounders For £6 Million
BBC Sport have confirmed that Clint Dempsey is on his way out of White Hart Lane and is moving back to his native United States. The 30-year old has reportedly put pen to paper on a deal with Major League Soccer side Seattle Sounders, believed to be a four-year contract. His new employers once had former Arsenal midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg among their ranks, and they currently have two familiar faces who Dempsey has played alongside before, in former USA goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann and ex Fulham striker Eddie Johnson. Dempsey arrived at Spurs last summer from Fulham and scored 7 league goals in 28 games, but his performances were particularly notable in the UEFA Europa League where he netted two important goals against FC Basel in his side's Quarter-final second leg. However manager Andre Villas-Boas has signalled his intention to strengthen the Tottenham squad with the arrival of Valencia forward Roberto Soldado this week for £26 million on a four-year contract, leaving many to question whether the American international had a future with the club. The fee for Dempsey is believed to be in the region of £6 million which would be an MLS transfer record, but club officials have yet to confirm the move for a player who may have also found opportunities limited with the Premier League club due to the arrivals of Paulinho and Nacer Chadli this summer. 
The move would represent a significant coup for the Sounders who currently sit in 7th place in the Western Conference table, although the move may not be that much of a surprise after it emerged the Seattle coach spoke with Dempsey whilst he was on international duty for the USA, according to the Daily Mirror. Their coach Sigi Schmid said: I know Clint. I talked to him when he was here when he was playing against Panama. Prior to his switch across the capital, Dempsey spent five successful years with Fulham finding the back of the net 50 times in 184 league appearances after signing from New England Revolution in January 2007. The forward who has been capped 99 times by his country is considered to have been one of the most successful US exports to have played in the Barclays Premier League since its inception in 1992. Tottenham Hotspur released a brief statement which said: "We wish Clint every success for the future."