Reds Rebuff Eagles Rickie Lambert Interest

Although at least one member of Liverpool’s struggling cast of strikers is almost certain to be cleared out this January if rumours of an early return for Lille loanee Divock Origi prove to be true, it’s believed that the Reds aren’t about to let Rickie Lambert be the one to make way for the young Belgian.

Newly installed Crystal Palace poss Alan Pardew is rumoured to be lining up a bid to bring the former Southampton man to Selhurst Park with an offer of £4.5mil on the table to tempt the Anfield outfit, but they’re reluctant to part company with the 32-year old who only just completed a dream move back to his boyhood club in the summer. Whether or not that resolve will stick to the end of the transfer window is anyone’s guess though.

Lambert, in the few opportunities he’s had to impress, has failed to make his mark on Merseyside as of yet despite being the only striker in the side — bar the constantly injured Daniel Sturridge — to claim a league goal this season. Mario Balotelli, who is a loan target for Greek side Olympiakos and Fabio Borini, who remains a target for Sunderland, have yet to find the net in the Premiership and the future’s of both look suspect with the rumoured return for Origi gaining steam.

While the Reds apparently remain hesitant to part company with the ageing hit-man, it would be interesting to hear the players take on Pardew’s interest with his spot in Roy Hodgson’s England set-up certainly under threat considering his relatively non-existent time on the pitch. If Liverpool do need to clear out an attacker by the end of the month, it could very well be Lambert pushing for a move rather than the club trying to push him out…