Fulham hopeful of bringing Clint Dempsey back to Craven Cottage on loan from Seattle Sounders Fulham are confident of beating a host of Premier League rivals to the loan signing of Clint Dempsey. And Dempsey's temporary return could allow out-of-favour forward Bryan Ruiz to move to Anderlecht. West Ham United and Stoke City are among the clubs chasing forward Dempsey, but Fulham have been given encouragement that he will return to Craven Cottage. Dempsey moved to Seattle Sounders for £6 million from Tottenham in the summer, having previously spent five years and scored 60 goals at Fulham. The 30-year-old American is available for around two months during the Major League Soccer off-season. Anderlecht sporting director Herman Van Holsbeeck is due in London this week to try to negotiate a January deal to sign Ruiz. It is understood the Belgian club would initially like to take Ruiz on loan, with a view to signing the Costa Rica captain on a permanent basis in the summer. Ruiz's wages could be a problem. He earns around £40,000 a week at Fulham, but Anderlecht are reluctant to pay more than £25,000 a week. Fulham spent a club-record £10.6 million to sign Ruiz from Dutch club FC Twente in August 2011, but the forward has scored just eight goals in England. Rene Muelensteen, Fulham's head coach, has not given up hope of keeping Dimitar Berbatov at the club until the end of the season. Berbatov's agent has claimed his client wants to quit Fulham in January, but the 32-year-old's form has improved under Muelensteen. Former Manchester United striker Berbatov has scored in each of Fulham's past two games, against Aston Villa and Everton. Muelensteen will hold talks with his Fulham bosses and Berbatov over the player's future before the January transfer window opens.