I did not refuse to play for Fulham, insists Tottenham new-boy Dempsey

The United States international has refuted reports he withdrew from matchday squads, before admitting the transfer saga brought him close to tears before moving to Spurs

Clint Dempsey has insisted that he did not refuse to play for Fulham ahead of his deadline-day move to Tottenham.

The midfielder, currently on international duty with United States, was widely tipped to join Liverpool before his eventual switch to White Hart Lane but a move stalled after the Anfield club failed to match the Cottagers’ asking price.

Spurs were successful with a £6 million bid with just hours left to go of the summer transfer window, and Dempsey has revealed his relief at putting to bed a tumultuous time at Fulham.

“I just remember calling my wife and my mum and almost wanting to break down in tears because it was a tough time,” he told Sports Illustrated.

“Going into that last day and night there were still a lot of question marks. It wasn’t clear-cut this was going to happen.

“Some other things came up and you are going through that struggle, which was not fun for anybody."

Dempsey failed to make an appearance for Fulham in the new campaign before moving to Tottenham, with reports suggesting that he had refused to play to force a move.

However, the 29-year-old refutes such suggestions, claiming that lies were told by Fulham, adding: “I did not refuse to play. There were some things that were said that were not true.”

Dempsey now looks forward to playing a part in Tottenham’s claim for Champions League football, though admits he is unsure how manager Villas-Boas envisages to use him.

He concluded: “It will be interesting to see where I will fit in, because I don’t know what the manager’s plans are in that sense.

“I have to show Villas-Boas where I am at, obviously, and he will see what the best fit will be."