Fulham manager Martin Jol admits he would have preferred Clint Dempsey to carry on playing for Fulham until a bid was received as he waits to discover if the USA international will leave.
Dempsey has been the subject of interest from Liverpool during the summer and the situation has led to Fulham reporting the Reds to the Premier League.
The Cottagers insist no offer has come in from Liverpool for Dempsey and the impasse has led to the attacker not being involved in the opening two games of the season.
Jol would be happy to welcome Dempsey back into the fold, if no bids are made before the transfer window closes, and he is waiting for the matter to be resolved.
"Everyone thinks he was left out of the squad today but he has not been there for four or five weeks," said Jol after Saturday's 3-2 defeat at Manchester United.
"If there is no bid - like Steven Fletcher and Matt Jarvis at Wolves - he could have played until he got his big move. I would have liked that.
"But there is no official bid. It is a very bad situation for us, and for him of course."
The Fulham boss added: "I am not a person who will not forgive a player. I loved him last year but I have not seen him much this year.
"If there is no bid what can I do? I cannot sell him to the non-league or put him on loan at Stevenage. Maybe something will happen next week.
"He really thought he would be on the move four or five weeks ago. His head was turned. He thought it would happen in the next couple of days and it didn't."