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Amidst the news of an exodus of players being linked with Manchester United, many football fans failed to pay heed to the news that Liverpool have had a bid in the region of 4 million accepted by Southampton for Rickie Lambert. The 32 year old England International, who will travel to Brazil this month has been a key figure in Southampton's 8th place finish this previous season.
The move , far from being a signal of intent by Liverpool, may just suggest something else in particular. Liverpool hit man Luis Suarez is being constantly linked with a move away from Anfield and the 32 year old may be seen as a replacement for the 27 year old Uruguayan. Although, the decision is still in doubt.
Lambert was released by Liverpool as a schoolboy and has,after that spent his days at clubs such as Blackpool, Macclesfield , Stockport, Rochdale , Bristol and finally flourished at Southampton. The Englishman joined the Saints back in 2009 and since then,has scored 106 times in 207 outings. Considering Lambert's age, it does come as a bit of surprise that Liverpool are interested in buying him only for keeping him as a 2nd or a 3rd choice. But, the move would provide a chance for the under-rated striker to head back to his home town and live in a city where his family resides.
He has been often described as a "far better footballer than he is given credit for" by Brendan Rodgers himself. The Liverpool gaffer also added that "He has never got the recognition for what a really good footballer he is". Resembling Andy Carroll in a number of ways, Rickie Lambert is a gem of a striker in the air and a burly contestant especially when being tackled. He has the ability to shrug off defenders at will and owing to decent balance and jumping ability, virtually increases his height. More so, he's someone who is adept in threading through balls and playing passes to the players around him. He's got a hammer of a right foot and is very good in playing dead balls. And not to forget, he's a God in Penalties and has missed only one in his entire career.
But, the Liverpool style of play is more free flowing and fast than what Lambert can sought to play with. Wingers hardly knock crosses into the box and strikers such as Daniel Sturridge hardly hide behind the last defender to knock one in. But, Lambert is that kind of a player who a side can rely on to let him bang around and sneak past defenders to find headers . Moreover, he can press the opposition OK when his side is without the ball, on the contrary to Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge and can't really harry a defender into a mistake.
If Liverpool are planning to offload outcast Iago Aspas, even then Lambert would be considered as a 3rd choice behind the pecking order to Luis Suarez or Daniel Sturridge. But for years, Liverpool have been aching to get a player with a bright mind and a physical presence up front . Andy Carroll could never do so but Rickie Lambert can finally give them that. And spending a mere 4 million on a someone like him looks quite good, if Brendan Rodgers wants to give his side a 'complete' look and also if he needs quality depth all over his side. But,it would have been better if he could have been 4 or 5 years younger.
