Rickie Lambert has no wish to leave Saints this summer – unless he is told he has no future at the club.

The 31-year-old St Mary’s talisman has been linked with a shock switch to join former boss Nigel Adkins at Championship club Reading.

It is claimed that Saints would only consider selling if they sign some international standard strikers this summer.

Mauricio Pochettino is still being linked with a move for his former Espanyol striker Pablo Osvaldo, who plays for Italian club Roma, while Brazilian international Leandro Damião is also on the club’s radar.

But The Daily Echo understands Lambert is more than happy at Saints and has no wish to leave – even if Saints, as expected, bolster their attacking options. Lambert is one of only three senior strikers at the club at the moment in the first team squad – Jay Rodriguez and Emmanuel Mayuka are the others It is no secret that Adkins is desperate to sign a proven striker to try and get Reading back in the top flight, and the Royals do have a sizable parachute payment available to them.

But Lambert will only leave Saints if the club tell him he is not in their forseeable plans – and that looks unlikely given his record of 93 league goals in 170 games for the club.

 

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