Lambert wanted by Palace

UPDATE

James Pearce (Liverpool Echo) has made it clear that the club have no intention of letting Rickie Lambert leave this window or anytime soon.

Despite the interest from Crystal Palace, documented below, Brendan Rodgers has no plan to lose a striker who was purchased to create a ‘plan b’ for the team.

The boyhood Liverpool fan has found appearances slightly limited this season, and it’s difficult to see that improving with the likelihood of Sturridge’s return soon, plus the arrival of Divock Origi, should it be this window or the next.

———

Rickie Lambert has emerged as a transfer target for new Crystal Palace boss, Alan Pardew, according to The Guardian. Palace’s main problem this campaign has been putting the ball in the back of the net. Pardew believes that the 32 year-old striker is the man to begin to solve the problem.

The England international was only signed in the summer from Southampton. It was the fairytale move for Lambert, who at an early age, was released from Liverpool’s academy. 16 years later, Lambert was signed by Brendan Rodgers to give Liverpool something different in attack this season. In all honesty, it hasn’t worked at all in the way that both parties would have liked it to.

Lambert has struggled with adapting to the way Liverpool play and sometimes looks like he’s trying too hard. He has, though, managed two goals for the Reds and hasn’t been given too many chances. Although there was a spell where he started many games on the bounce and didn’t make the striker spot his own. I think that was his chance.

Despite his difficult start, the article states that Liverpool want to keep hold of their big striker. However, with limited playing time, especially with the inevitable return to fitness of Daniel Sturridge, Lambert may be looking to play his football elsewhere. Crystal Palace is a good place for him to go, another chance in the Premier League for him to flourish and keep his place in the international side.

The potential fee for Lambert would most likely be under the £4m Liverpool purchased him for in the summer, due to his shaky start in a red shirt.