CLINT DEMPSEY has revealed the transfer window left him a blubbing emotional wreck.
The American’s late-night switch to Tottenham last Friday was one of the biggest shocks of deadline day.
The Fulham star had been tipped to join Liverpool, with Kop boss Brendan Rodgers a big fan.
But after that deal collapsed, he sealed a £6million move to Spurs — which was rubberstamped just TWO MINUTES before the 11pm deadline.
He said: “I remember calling my wife and mom and almost wanting to break down in tears because it was a tough time.
“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’re going through that struggle, which was not fun for anybody.
“It was difficult for Fulham and for me, not knowing how it’s going to end.
“It’s just about having that faith, holding on to hope that something was going to happen that both parties were going to be happy with.
“In the end that was accomplished, but the deal didn’t get done until 9pm and that was when a fee was agreed.
“But then you had to look at all the logistics, trying to get to Tottenham’s training ground, trying to make sure all the paperwork was through, doing the medical, signing the contract and having everything sent back before the deadline at 11pm.
“Everything was sent through at 10.58pm, so you’re there but you’re like, ‘Is this official yet?’”
Dempsey cannot wait to get back playing in the Prem again after being left out of Fulham’s opening two games of the season, with manager Martin Jol claiming the player told him he did not want to play for the club again.
But Dempsey flatly denies he went on strike, insisting: “I did not refuse to play. There were some things that were said that were not true.”
He was branded “an arrogant twerp” by chat show host Piers Morgan for openly admitting that he wanted to leave Fulham for a bigger club.
But Dempsey said: “For me, it’s always been about being able to look myself in the mirror and say, ‘You tried your best. You challenged yourself. And you’ll be able to die a happy man in the sense of your career, knowing that you were able to see if you could do it or not’.”
Dempsey, who bagged 23 goals for the Cottagers last season, is likely to start on the bench for Tottenham at Reading next Sunday.
He does not know what position he will play under Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas.
He said: “It will be interesting to see where I’ll fit in, because I don’t know what his plans are in that sense.
“I have to show him where I’m at, obviously, and he’ll see what the best fit will be.
“Any position that I can get into the attack and get goals is what I enjoy.
“I think a strength of mine is late runs into the box and being able to get on the end of things. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
France captain Hugo Lloris was another signed by Spurs ahead of the deadline, joining on an £8m deal from Lyon.
But Les Bleus coach Didier Deschamps indicated Lloris’ position as France No 1 would be under threat if he was not able to dislodge American veteran Brad Friedel, 41, between the posts at White Hart Lane.
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