Liverpool Transfer Rumour: American Set to Replace Carroll

Liverpool are ready to table a £5mn offer for Fulham forward Clint Dempsey, reports Goal.com.

The American, who scored 23 goals for the Cottagers last season, has only a year left on his contract with Martin Jol's side and has turned down the chance to sign an extension with the west London club. The situation has alerted Reds boss Brendan Rodgers, who is keen to add another attacker to his squad before the start of the season after snapping up Roma striker Fabio Borini last week.

The report says that Fulham value Dempsey at around £9mn but Liverpool are confident that the Lilywhites will settle for a deal around £5mn, since there is a possibility of the player leaving them as a free agent next summer.

Dempsey is highly versatile and can operate as a forward, attacking midfielder or winger. The report says that the 29 year old's arrival at Anfield could signal the end of Andy Carroll's time at the club. The England international is already facing some tough competition from Luis Suarez, Craig Bellamy and new signing Borini for a place in Rodgers' line-up and has been strongly linked with a return to his former club Newcastle United.

Liverpool's move for Dempsey was on the cards since the USA star publicly expressed his desire to play for a Champions League-calibre club. Rodgers had already stated that one of his top targets this season is to finish in the top four and earn a ticket for Europe's elite competition - a goal that will appeal to Dempsey.

"I am grateful for everything Fulham have done for me, some of the best memories I have in soccer have been there, but the fact remains that I want to play in Champions League. I want to play at the highest level possible. I want to do as much as I can in my career and look back and say I made the most of all the opportunities. I am always going to want to play in Champions League. It is something I have never done. I would like to test myself at that level. That way I can look back and say: 'Hey, I gave it a go. Either I was good enough or I wasn't good enough," ESPN quoted Dempsey as saying.

Dempsey has been the subject of much transfer gossip in recent months and unless one of the clubs who already have a Champions League spot under their belt hijacks the deal, the forward could be at Anfield next season.