If this article is correct, it doesn't sound as though the negotiations to extend contracts with our key players are going well. There is also a less than disguised dig at Dempsey by Jol - http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/premierleague/story/fulham-will-listen-to-offers-for-dempsey-and-other-stars-032612
To be fair Dembele also came out at the start of the season claiming he would like to play in the CL. But these words don't exactly inspire positivity. If we are to make any sort of progress under Jol surely Dembele and Dempsey remaining at the club is pivotal, Dembele in particular. As Jol said earlier in the week, when one of Dembele or Dempsey cannot play he has to change around the tactics and formation.
Well first of all, Fox News is America's version of The Daily Star. And also of course Dembele and Dempsey staying is paramount, but if they don't sign new contracts, want to go and have clubs hovering around then what are we to do. Dembele said when he signed for us (which wasn't entirely endearing) that he saw us as a stepping stone. I'd be happier if he sodded off after a couple of stellar seasons but he's only really had one, and that's debatable. Clint on the other hand has done his time and I wouldn't begrudge him his place in the sun, even if it could possibly mean him sitting on the bench at a top 4-6 club.
But Bidley, neither Dembele or Dempsey have come out and said they want to leave FFC or have handed in a transfer request, rejected a contract etc. this is all coming from Jol about selling our best players. Yes D+D will want CL football but so do millions of other players, doesn't mean they would leave their clubs to pursue it though.
I feel that the 3 players in question are central to any future plans,we need 3/4 players to build around these 3. clear out some of the dead wood in the summer,(saving on wages),and what MAF will put in I am sure we can find suitable premiership players.
If you actually cared to read any interviews Jol gave on this topic, he referred to the sales of these players giving him the much needed money he wants to shape the club in the way he wants. He knows MAF isn't going to give him as much money this time around and needs to generate funds, hence D+D being on their way because we won't get much for anyone else in the team.
Yeap, and if the funds go to bring players to replace them that's excellent. Summer will give him time and space to embed his ideas as well.
I think there is such a thing as a right time and a right price to let any player go, even someone who's been such an important part of the club for many years like Dempsey. If you look at Newcastle last season, selling Andy Carroll for £35m, at the time their fans thought it was the end of the world but they've become much stronger without him. I'm not saying that either Dempsey or Dembele would go for that much (or even £35m for the pair of them) but selling players for a good fee at the right time can leave you better off in the long run. I wonder if we'll see more of Frei on the left in the last couple of months of the season in preparation for letting Dempsey go in the Summer.
Dembele is the one I can imagine leaving. He put on an eye-popping display Monday night that I doubt other league managers missed. He made the ManU midfield look bad, and that takes some doing. Dempsey ... I don't know - he's 29. I could see him taking a step up to a club like Newcastle or Tottenham, but not any higher than that. Same thing with Hangeland.
Personally I can see MD going in the summer. I hope he signs and stays but realistically I think he will go. If we get in the region of 10m for him and MJ gets to spend it on brining in other young players I'd be happy with that. I think MD is an fantastic player but the sort of player AW at arsenal could make world class. Unfortunately I think he is destined for a bigger club than us. I think and hope CD and BH will both stay. Personally I'd be happy for MJ to take some risks (ie cashing in on MD) and brining some younger players in. I've faith in big Mart
I think MD will go - anything above £12m would be good business given what we paid for him. He should be worth more - his ability on the ball is the best I can remember seeing from any Fulham player over the last decade. The things that could hold him back are his poor record in front of goal and limited range of passing. If these improve he'll be a real force to be reckoned with in European football. Will watch with interest if and when he does go.
I suspect DemPele will go (and hope he won't), but would hope we'd get a lot more than the £10-12M that people are talking about. Usually, I think on this board there's a tendency for us to overestimate what our players are worth but in this case I think we're going the other way. I wouldn't want us to let him go for much less than £20m. That may be overpricing him a bit, but if we don't want to sell in the first place, why not? We might have to sell for less than that in January, but at least then we will have got another half season out of him.
