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LONDON —England manager Roy Hodgson has publicly given his backing to striker Rickie Lambert’s impending transfer from Southampton to Liverpool.
Lambert (32) underwent a medical examination in Liverpool on Saturday with a view to a move that will reportedly cost an initial £4 million, rising to £9 million with add-ons.
A former Liverpool trainee, Lambert has emerged as an important squad player for England since scoring against Scotland with his first touch as an international footballer in a friendly last year.
He is a member of the 23-man World Cup squad that was due to fly to Miami yesterday for a pre-tournament training camp and Hodgson said that his move to Anfield would be good news for the national side.
“He’s very happy. I’m happy for him,” Hodgson told reporters after England beat Peru 3-0 in a friendly at Wembley Stadium on Friday. “I congratulate Liverpool on signing a good player and I’m sure that on Wednesday, when he plays against Ecuador, you’ll see a fella running around with all the joy that his heart can muster.
“He’s very happy to be here with England and he’s very happy that the move has gone through to Liverpool.”
Liverpool are also reported to have tabled a £25 million bid for Lambert’s Southampton colleague Adam Lallana, who caught the eye against Peru with an enterprising performance.
Luke Shaw is expected to leave Southampton during the close season as well, amid interest from Manchester United, and Hodgson expressed sympathy for the south coast club, who finished eighth in the Premier League.
“It’s a pity for Southampton because they’ve been terrific this year and I congratulate them enormously,” he said.
“But unfortunately there are always bigger fish in the sea and it’s hard to keep those bigger fish away sometimes.”
While Lambert, who hails from Liverpool, is riding the crest of a wave, his fellow forward Wayne Rooney found himself criticised in some quarters after a lacklustre showing against Peru. AFP.
Online Reporter