Clint Dempsey rumored to be seeking Premier League loan

Clint Dempsey is being linked to a short-term loan move this winter, with the Mirror saying that Queens Park Rangers, Aston Villa and Stoke City being the most likely landing spots.

Dempsey has never been a guy who would seem to want two or three months off. He likes playing and he likes working so going on loan from January 1 until just before the start of the MLS season would fit in with that, just like he did last season when he joined Fulham on loan.

Now, this being the English media, there are no quotes or sources. They didn't even bother making up an "anonymous source." This is nothing more than speculation, proven by the fact that the clubs they linked him to are just based on those clubs being interested last year, but that doesn't mean it's not informed speculation.

Jurgen Klinsmann has said repeatedly that the MLS offseason is too long and that players need to stay sharp through the winter. He's not just endorsed short-term loans, he's help set them up. Dempsey is also good enough and proven enough that he should be able to secure a move to a solid club.

Where Dempsey lands, as well as how successful he is on loan is a question. He wasn't great with Fulham last year, but that won't dissuade teams from chasing him or him from heading overseas for a couple months.