Tony Pulis wants to fire up £3million Rickie Lambert
Tony Pulis is confident Rickie Lambert would prove a hit at Albion if they win the race for the Liverpool striker's signature.
Having yesterday bolstered the backline with the signing of James Chester from Hull, the Baggies boss is keen to make inroads into strengthening the attack and has confirmed he still wants to add Lambert to the mix.
Albion have held talks with the 33-year-old's agent but face competition from Leicester and Norwich for the £3million-valued striker.
Lambert scored just three goals last season after joining Liverpool in a £4million move from Southampton, where he enjoyed a prolific five-year spell. But Pulis believes it would not take long for the striker to rediscover his form.
"We would be interested," he said. "I think it is very, very important we get players who score goals and Rickie has a great goal-scoring record. From what I can gather from people at Liverpool, his fitness levels are very, very good and he is desperate to play football.
"He didn't play last year so it would be like bringing a brand new car out of the garage if you did sign him, just putting a bit of petrol in him and letting him run."
Pulis still has hope of signing Matt Phillips from QPR, who remains his No.1 target on the wing.
Chester completed his switch to The Hawthorns yesterday morning in a deal which could be worth up to £8million, after Albion saw off a late attempt from Leicester City to hijack the move. The 26-year-old, who began his career at Manchester United, has signed a four-year deal.
Pulis, who has worked with a number of former United players including current Baggies skipper Darren Fletcher, is delighted to have him on board. "He has been brought up well as a Manchester United boy and they have that stamp on them," he said. "The lads I have had from there, Shawcross and Fletcher for example, have all been wonderful lads and Chester, from what I can gather, seems to be exactly the same."
