Fulham’s Clint Dempsey and Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson were set to switch places in the 2012 summer transfer window, with FSG even going as far as accidentally saying that a deal was done
Fenway Sports Group (FSG) accidentally told Liverpool fans that they had signed Clint Dempsey in 2012, only for the star to end up signing for Tottenham instead. The Reds had just finished eighth in the Premier League standings under Kenny Dalglish, secured a runners-up medal in the FA Cup and clinched the League Cup when the summer transfer window presented an incredible opportunity to build ahead of the new term.
Brendan Rodgers was appointed as the successor to Dalglish at the turn of June, and wasted no time whatsoever in assessing his options for 2012/13, looking to trim the squad and bring in well-established names to ensure Liverpool fared better in the new campaign.
One star that caught Rodgers’ attention in particular was Dempsey – a versatile forward and attacking midfielder who had managed 60 goals and 20 assists with Fulham between 2007 and 2012. Unsettled at Craven Cottage, Dempsey had submitted a transfer request, and Rodgers thought that he would be a perfect fit for his Liverpool side going forward.
As a result, FSG worked to get a deal for Dempsey over the line, with Rodgers even proposing a straight swap between the American and Liverpool club captain, Jordan Henderson. The problem with that, however, was that Henderson refused to entertain a move to West London.
Things took a turn for the worse when FSG released a statement suggesting that Dempsey had been signed by the Reds. Henderson remained at Anfield, and Dempsey ended up signing for Spurs. Shedding light on the kerfuffle in conversation with Men in Blazers, Dempsey has now revealed that a move was closer than some may like to admit.
He explained: «I was pretty close if I’m being honest with you. It was a situation where it was gonna be a trade for me and Jordan Henderson, and whether or not he wanted to come to Fulham or not.
«It wasn’t gonna be a situation where they were looking to spend a lot of money. I think they were kind of playing a little bit of Moneyball.
«I think they’d already spent a lot of money on Jordan Henderson and Andy Carroll, so they were looking to try to figure out a way for someone who was a little bit older — maybe it made sense to be more of a trade.»
The now 42-year-old added: «I think I would’ve fit their style – or more so, Brendan Rodgers’ style because I was an inverted winger, right? I played on the left, I’d come in on my right foot, kind of like what I did at Fulham.
«But Jordan Henderson didn’t want to make that change, and it ended up being the best move for him. He ultimately won a Champions League and a Premier League. But it was pretty close to happening, it just wasn’t meant to be.»
Elsewhere, Henderson has also given his side of the story, admitting that he was sent to «a very dark place» after seeing his future at Liverpool thrown into question. Speaking to The Guardian, the 35-year-old said: «That was a difficult moment I remember very clearly.
«We were preparing for a (Europa League qualifying) game against Hearts at Anfield. We met as normal in the hotel and I got a knock on my door saying the manager wanted to speak to us. To be fair to Brendan Rodgers, it was really just a conversation.
«It was an opportunity (to leave for Fulham) I didn’t want and I didn’t like. I still felt I had an awful lot to give. But I was in a very dark place at that time. It made us a lot stronger and a lot wiser later on and, without that, you never know what could have happened.
«So I really cherish them moments because you need setbacks, you need adversity. You get back up, and it makes you stronger because you want to prove people wrong. Ever since that day I had something in me.
«I needed to prove to the manager I would get in his team eventually. I’d do absolutely everything to be in his team, this football club, and I’d prove them wrong. In the end, I did.»
Henderson remained at Anfield until 2023, winning a Premier League and Champions League title before his big-money move to Al-Ettifaq. However, the Sunderland-born star lasted just a single season in Saudi Arabia before he was on the move once more – this time to Ajax.
Dempsey, meanwhile, moved on to Spurs in a £6m move – but his tenure at White Hart Lane also didn’t last long. The very next year, Dempsey signed with Seattle Sounders on a four-year contract, where he saw out the remainder of his career, retiring in 2018.
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