Revs GM Burns Talks Dempsey Signing

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Everyone would love to have Clint Dempsey.

That’s what Revolution General Manager Michael Burns said prior to Sunday’s game against Toronto FC, just a day after the former Revolution goal-scorer returned to the MLS as a member of the Seattle Sounders

Seattle unveiled Dempsey as their newest Designated Player before their game Saturday Night, a day after another former Rev – Shalrie Joseph – restructured his contract to remove himself as a DP.

“I think first and foremost this only happens if Clint wants it to happen,” said Burns. “He’s a tremendous player. He has a tremendous résumé. He’s going to be great for this league again. I think it says a lot about him and how he views and values MLS. I think he ultimately wanted to come back and got the deal done to come back.”

Dempsey joins Mauro Rosales and Obafemi Martins as Designated Players on Seattle, something that raises the bar for other teams in the league.

“They just keep raising the bar with two very big, high profile, highly compensated designated players,” said Burns. “I think it raises the bar for the rest of the league.”

After six and a half years abroad in the English Premier League, Dempsey’s return at age 30 was a surprise to many, including Burns.

“For me personally it was a little surprising,” he said. “It seemed like it happened relatively quickly. I think they did a very commendable job on keeping the lid on this until the last possible minute.

Burns believes that Dempsey’s move back to the MLS as one the nation’s best players just a year before the World Cup “says an awful lot.”

Support on the Way?

The summer MLS window is quickly closing – this coming Thursday to be exact – and the Revolution have been without a move incoming or outgoing, but that could change soon.

When addressing the media prior to Sunday’s game against Toronto, GM Michael Burns said the Revolution might be adding another player.

“We are looking to add before Thursday but there’s nothing to announce yet,” he said. “There’s a good chance that something may happen but it’s not done.”

Burns would not comment if the possible incoming player would be signed as a Designated Player.