Dempsey linked with £8m switch

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is set to step up his interest in Fulham's Clint Dempsey and could make an £8million bid.

Rodgers has just wrapped up the signing of Fabio Borini from AS Roma but he is still in the hunt for another striker and reports claim Dempsey is the player he wants. Dempsey has just 12 months remaining on his contract at Craven Cottage and Martin Jol would prefer to cash in now rather than risk losing him for nothing next summer. There have been suggestions that Andy Carroll could be loaned to the Cottagers as part of the switch but a straight cash deal is more likely and the club's American owners have given Rodgers the green light to make his move. Carroll is still likely to move on with reports claiming Rodgers will tell him he does not figure in his plans when he returns from holiday in Brazil this week.