SAINTS talisman Rickie Lambert is being linked with a shock reunion with former St Mary’s boss Nigel Adkins.

A report in today's edition of The Sun has suggested the 31-year-old striker – who has netted 93 goals in 170 league appearances for Saints – could be the subject of an audacious bid from Reading boss Adkins.

The Berkshire club are desperate to sign a striker following their relegation after just one season in the Premier League.

But the report suggests Saints will only consider selling last term’s 15-goal top scorer if they land £18m Brazilian international Leandro, the leading marksman in last year’s London Olympic tournament.

Saints are also still being linked with Roma striker Pablo Osvaldo, who once had a spell at Spanish club Espanyol under Saints manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Italian international Osvaldo – who like Leandro was not included in his country’s recent Confederations Cup tournament – was first linked with a move to St Mary’s around a month ago. Lambert has been Saints’ top scorer in each of his four remarkable seasons at Saints.

He was not so prolific under Pochettino last season as he was under Adkins – scoring five times in 16 appearances under the former after netting 10 goals in 22 Premier League outings under Adkins.