Rickie Lambert
Lambert scored 13 league goals last season.

Liverpool's imminent addition of Southampton striker Rickie Lambert is exactly what the club need, according to former-Reds forward Robbie Fowler.

Reports suggest Lambert will undergo a medical ahead of a £4m move to Anfield following England's World Cup warm-up game against Peru on Friday.

Lambert scored 14 goals last season for Southampton but would be expected to play second fiddle to both Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge from next term with the club having to balance domestic and European commitments after confirming their return to the Champions League.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Fowler said: "I think he'll be a magnificent one [signing]. For £4m you're getting a recognised striker who scores goals in the Premier League, he holds the ball up and he's probably what Liverpool need.

"He's got a little bit of everything. It doesn't fit with what Liverpool wanted a few years ago when they wanted young players coming in but for £4m you can't argue.

"Steven Gerrard is training with him for England and if Liverpool are trying to sign him then he will have a big say in that because he'll be going back to Brendan and saying 'this lad is fantastic' so it's worth a shot.

"What it does is it gives Liverpool more and more options in attack which is what I think they need."

A move to Merseyside would cap a remarkable rise in Lambert's career since his days with Macclesfield Town, Stockport County and Rochdale before a move to Bristol Rovers in 2006.

The Kirkby-born forward joined Southampton in 2009 and helped the club go from League One to the Premier League in the space of two seasons while he has already adapted to the demands of the top fight, scoring 28 goals in the past two campaigns.

Such form was rewarded with a maiden England cap against Scotland in which he scored the winner and his role at the fulcrum of the Saints attack saw him named in Roy Hodgson's 23-man squad for the World Cup.

The 32 year old's departure though is expected to be followed by a mass exodus from St Mary's after Mauricio Pochettino joined Tottenham Hotspur on a five-year deal.

Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw, Morgan Schneiderlin and Dejan Lovren have all been linked with moves away from Southampton after the club enjoyed a record-equalling eighth place finish in the Premier League.

Liverpool FC