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Following on from rumours earlier in the month that West Bromwich Albion were leading the chase for surplus Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert comes word today that the West Midlands club is now preparing to enter into contract talks with the player. Norwich City were also reported to be interested in Lambert, but appears almost certain he will be joining the Baggies.
Amongst the multiple outlets now claiming a deal is in the works, the Guardian claim Lambert’s move could be completed within the week. There are as yet no reports as to the fee West Brom might end up paying the Reds for Lambert, but it is not likely to be large—after all, Lambert is 33 years of age, only has a year left on his current deal, and arrived at Anfield for only £4M in 2014.
His first and likely only senior season with his boyhood club that followed on from that move didn’t go to plan, with Lambert managing a meagre three goal return in 36 total appearances. Even taking into account that many of his appearances were off the bench, it works out to a goal every 420 minutes for Lambert, who failed to click at Liverpool despite appearing well suited at Southampton.
Lambert passed up a chance to move to Aston Villa in January in the hopes he could still make a go of it at Liverpool, but with it becoming clear it wasn’t meant to be, he is now ready to move on. If he joins West Brom, he is likely to start regularly as strike partner to Saido Berahino in Tony Pulis’ attack. Hopefully he can find the success with the Baggies he wasn’t able to at Anfield.
