Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers' determination to land Clint Dempsey has been laid bare after it was revealed he attempted to broker the deal by offering several Liverpool stars in exchange.
Rodgers had agreed a swap in principle with Fulham for Jordan Henderson but it now appears that Stewart Downing and Jose Enrique were also mentioned as possible departures.
Agents circulated the players' names to rival Barclays Premier League clubs in the hope of raising the money that would clinch a deal for the United States forward.
As the clock ticked down towards the end of the transfer window.
The moves came to nothing as Dempsey agreed a late switch to Tottenham, scuppering Rodgers' attempt to land one of his prime targets of the summer.