Middlesbrough bosses today dismissed speculation that the club were targeting the signing of Ricky Lambert. Rumours started last night of the imminent arrival of the England international but today those have been swiftly ended, according to The Gazette.
Lambert, who is being allowed to leave Liverpool after becoming surplus to requirements under Brendan Rodgers, is on the lookout for a new club. With Liverpool already having Daniel Sturridge, Fabio Borini, Mario Balotelli, the returning Divock Origi and the imminent signing of Christian Benteke, Lambert will have to look elsewhere for the first team opportunities he desires.
The former Rochdale, Bristol Rovers and Southampton forward joined Liverpool last summer for just £4million but has found starting opportunities lacking - he made only 25 Premier League appearances with the majority of those coming off the bench.
The 33-year-old, who currently has 11 England caps, has been heavily linked with moves to Aston Villa and Bournemouth already this summer, but could he be tempted by a move down to the Championship?
Boro need a Bamford replacement
Lambert was selected in the Football League Team of the Decade at the 2015 Football League Awards, so he's no stranger to the demands of the division. The veteran forward would've been a shrewd signing for Boro, though they will now have to look elsewhere to fill the boots of successful loanee Chelsea forward, Patrick Bamford, who looks unlikely to return. Bamford was named the Championship Player of the Year for the 2014/15 season and scored 17 league goals - with him missing, Boro have big shoes to fill.
The Riverside outfit are reportedly looking to add a proven Championship goal-getter with Blackburn Rovers hitman Jordan Rhodes amongst the names who have been linked. Uruguayan forward Christian Stuani is close to joining from Espanyol and fellow Spanish forward Kike already at the club, one big name striker should be enough to help them mount another big promotion push.