Fulham manager Martin Jol admits he would have preferred Liverpool target Clint Dempsey to continue playing for the club until his future was resolved.
Dempsey has been linked with a move to Liverpool throughout the summer transfer window and earlier this month told Jol that he wanted to leave Craven Cottage.
As a result, the 29-year-old has been left out of the Fulham squad for their opening two games of the new Premier League season.
Jol, who does not believe Dempsey is in the right frame of mind to play, last week called the saga “embarrassing” after Liverpool expressed an interest in the United States international but failed to follow it up with an official bid.
And the Dutchman admits he is waiting for matter to be resolved ahead of the summer transfer window closing on Friday night.
“Everyone thinks he was left out of the squad today but he has not been there for four or five weeks,” Jol said 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.”
He 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.”
Arsenal have also shown interest in the forward.
