Fulham accepts £7m bid from Aston Villa for Clint Dempsey

Fulham have accepted a £7million bid from Aston Villa for Clint Dempsey - increasing the pressure on Liverpool to raise the stakes in their pursuit of the United States international.

Dempsey has been linked with Liverpool for most of the summer and has been left out of the Cottagers' opening games of the season since declaring his intention to leave.

Sunderland are also keen on the 29-year-old but Anfield looked the most likely destination with Dempsey keen on a move to Merseyside.

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert has now shaken things up as he looks for reinforcements to take some of the burden off striker Darren Bent.

The deal was agreed on Thursday night and is cash only - with no add ons and no other players involved.