Transfer Centre

Crystal Palace to sign Rickie Lambert?

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief | 27 September 2017

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodson is considering bringing in free agent Rickie Lambert to help deal with the club's striker crisis.

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson is reportedly considering making a move for free agent Rickie Lambert following the loss of Christian Benteke to injury.

Benteke has been ruled out for at least six weeks after picking up a knee injury during the 5-0 defeat at Manchester City last weekend.

That result made it six straight league losses without scoring for the Eagles - the worst start to a season by any side in English football history - and Hodgson is now mulling a move for former Liverpool and Southampton striker Lambert as he looks to end the goalscoring drought, according to The Independent.

The 35-year-old was released by Championship side Cardiff City at the end of last term but has been training in his hometown of Liverpool since in order to stay fit as he searches for a new club.

Palace chairman Steve Parish is said to be a "long-term admirer" of the former England international but has yet to make an official approach for Lambert as the club assess all options available to them in the free market.

Goalkeeper Kleton Perntreou has already been released by Palace as they free up a space in their 25-man Premier League squad for the arrival of a new forward in the coming weeks.