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.”

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Spurs Transfer News: Tottenham To Hijack Arsenal’s Demba Ba Bid?

The fight for Demba Ba has a new contender as Tottenham Hotspur joned Arsenal, Newcastle and West Ham in the battle for the Senegalese striker’s signature, according to Sky Sports News.

Chelsea are demanding 3 million to pry Ba – who only joined from Newcastle in January – away from Stamford Bridge on a year-long loan.

For the longest time it was felt that Arsenal were in pole position for Ba’s signature, yet with the Gunners only willing to stump up 1.5 million as a fee the door has been left open for Newcastle, West Ham and overseas clubs such as Valencia and Napoli – currently managed by Rafa Benitez, Ba’s Chelsea manager last season.

Yet now Sky Sports have broken the news that Spurs have joined the hunt after being knocked back in their attempts to sign Zenit St. Petersburg’s Hulk – the Brazilian would’ve cost 10 million just for a year’s loan, forcing Spurs to look elsewhere.

Chelsea have announced that they have rebuffed bids from both North London clubs and have accepted terms from another Premier League suitor, but Ba may be dragging his heels until a move to a Champions League club materialises.

Tottenham’s entrance into the race came moments after West Ham appeared to be about to hjack Arsenal’s deal and bring Ba back to the club where he began his Premier League career.

According the BBC, the move was going to be partly funded by the sale of Ricardo Vaz Te.

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Tottenham vs Lyon – Team News, Match Preview & Likely Line-Ups

• Date: Thursday, 14th February
• Venue: White Hart Lane
• K/o: 20:05

Team News

Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris will not face his former team as Spurs host Lyon in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie.

Brad Friedel will start in goal against the French club, while Emmanuel Adebayor will lead the line up front in the absence of the injured Jermain Defoe, who misses out with an ankle injury.

Long-term absentees Sandro and Younes Kaboul remain out, but the latter should be available again for the second leg in a fortnight.

Tom Huddlestone is ruled out with a minor knee injury but new signing Lewis Holtby could start.

Lyon have no fresh injury concerns and Former AC Milan playmaker Yoann Gourcuff may start.

In-demand striker Bafetimbi Gomis may be given the nod ahead of Lisandro Lopez up front with the Frenchman racking up 16 goals so far this season.

Match Preview

Tottenham play host to Lyon tonight on the back of a 2-1 win over Newcastle United in the Premier League which provides Andre Villas-Boas and his men a fantastic opportunity to qualify for the more notable of the two European competitions – the Champions League – next season.

Lyon meanwhile are also well equipped to qualify for Europe’s top competition but trail first placed Paris St Germain by 6 points in Ligue 1. R mi Garde’s men warmed up for this encounter in the worst possible fashion however. They have just one win from their last four and come into this game after a 1-3 home defeat to Lille.

Tottenham will also be further boosted by the fact that they are unbeaten in the UEFA Europa League this season and have not lost, at home, in any competition, since Wigan beat them in a Premier League match in early November.

Former Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who joined from the French outfit last summer, will not be facing his former club for the first time with veteran American shot-stopper Brad Friedel getting the nod instead.

Likely Line-Ups

Tottenham

Friedel, Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Dembele, Holtby, Bale, Dempsey, Adebayor

Lyon

Vercoutre, Reveillere, Lovren, Bisevac, Dabo, Fofana, Gonalons, Gourcuff, Grenier, Ghezzal, Gomis

Source: International Business Times

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