Fulham are reportedly interested in signing Liverpool striker Andy Carroll in a deal that could see Clint Dempsey move to Anfield.
Dempsey's performances last season strengthened his reputation as a goalscoring midfielder and in recent weeks he has been linked with Arsenal as well as the Merseysiders.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers earlier this week indicated he was prepared to let Carroll go, and according to The Guardian, Fulham could now be open to an audacious swap deal.
The Cottagers, who have completed the signing of Hugo Rodallega from Wigan Athletic on a free transfer, would reportedly have to pay around £9m in addition to Dempsey if they were to sign Liverpool's record signing on a permanent deal, although Rodgers to date has only suggested the £35million forward would be allowed to leave the club on a season-long loan deal.
"It’s something I would have to look at, I have to be honest," said the former Swansea City boss earlier this week.
"Is it going to be beneficial for the club, that’s the most important thing? Sometimes a player going out on loan - in general, not just Andy - can benefit the club in the long term.
"It gets them game experience, and they come back a better player, a more confident one. Certainly more so than if they’ve been sitting on the bench for the majority of the season."
AC Milan and West Ham are also interested in signing Carroll this summer and Rodgers' comments have led to bookmakers William Hill trimming the odds about the former Newcastle striker leaving Anfield this summer from 4/1 to 11/4.
Hill's spokesman Joe Crilly told Crunchsports.com: "Rodgers has claimed that everyone will have the chance to prove themselves but the long ball to Andy Carroll will undoubtedly be banished to the annals of Anfield history and that could mean the man himself may also become redundant."
Hill's make Dempsey just 5/4 to join the Rodgers Revolution before the end of August.