Liverpool striker could resurrect career with newly-promoted Bournemouth

AFC Bournemouth could offer Liverpool flop Rickie Lambert a career lifeline, with Eddie Howe reportedly poised to swoop for the former Southampton star.

Lambert fulfilled a boyhood dream when singing for Liverpool from Saints last summer but a total of just 35 appearances, many of those form the bench, and just three goals means the 33-year-old is unlikely to do much more than warm the bench for the remaining year of his current deal.

Cherries boss Howe recently indicated his intent to bring British-based talent to Dean Court to boost his side’s survival hopes and Lambert’s form at south-cast rivals Saints makes the veteran striker an ideal candidate.

Howe is keen to keep hold of star striker Callum Wilson, scorer of some 23 goals in the Cherries’ promotion push, and feels the arrival of Lambert would complement the youngster’s talents and give him every opportunity to shine in the Premier League.

Lambert scored a solid 106 goals in 207 games for Southampton but as well as his own goal threat Howe is an admirer of the 6ft2in striker’s physical attributes and aerial ability.

Bournemouth have been linked with a long list of veteran strikers in recent weeks, with Obafemi Martins, Jermain Defoe and Dimitar Berbatov all named as potential targets.

While all three players are bigger names than Lambert, the Liverpool man would perhaps fit into the Cherries’ style of play and indeed Howe’s harmonious squad more easily, and cheaply, than the others.

Bournemouth are currently odds on to beat the drop and just 5/1 to finish in the top 10 and should Lambert arrive and rediscover his Saints form Bournemouth will be well-paced to deliver on such odds.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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