Rickie Lambert to West Brom: Latest Transfer Details, Reaction and More

Liverpool reached an agreement with West Bromwich Albion for the transfer of striker Rickie Lambert on Friday. It's a nice value addition for Albion as the Reds continue to remold their attacking group ahead of the new campaign.

The club announced the deal with a quote from manager Tony Pulis:

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"Rickie is a good, strong, solid player who is a great character, good in the dressing room and good on the pitch.

"We are very pleased to have him on board.

"He's a player of great pedigree and we look forward to integrating him into our squad."

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Lambert arrived at Anfield last summer to provide Liverpool with some reliable veteran depth. He seemed like an ideal acquisition after scoring at least 14 goals across all competitions in seven straight seasons, including the previous two with Premier League side Southampton.

Instead, he struggled mightily to find good form. Reds manager Brendan Rodgers tried various different lineup combinations throughout the campaign in an attempt to jump-start Lambert, Mario Balotelli or Daniel Sturridge, but nothing quite clicked.

The lack of consistent playing time probably contributed to the 33-year-old England international's woes. He solidified himself as the top striker during his time with the Saints, leading to a regular spot as a starter. He couldn't find the same rhythm in a more varied role.

As a result, he nearly left the club in January. Aston Villa made a serious approach on deadline day, but he told James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo that the timing just wasn't right.

"The deal was agreed, but in the end, there just wasn't enough time to say 'yes'—to make a decision in the space of four or five hours for the next two-and-a-half-years. Not just for me, but for my family as well," Lambert said. "It was something I just couldn't do. It was too short notice. It was too big of a decision to make in the short amount of time I had."

The summer window gave him a better opportunity to consider his options and make an informed decision for himself and his family. It also became clear his path to playing time would be even more crowded at Anfield, which was likely a factor, as well.

Between the arrivals of Christian Benteke and Danny Ings, along with Divock Origi returning from loan, the situation didn't lend itself to a veteran forward coming off a down year.

The move should allow Lambert to take on a more prominent role. At 33, there's always a concern that all the miles are starting to take a physical toll. But he's long showcased a knack for putting himself in the right positions and delivering a strong final touch.

West Brom could certainly use Lambert's goal-scoring prowess; outside of young striker Saido Berahino, the team lacked punch at the front; they scored a total of 38 goals in league play, and Berahino accounted for 14 of those. While Lambert struggled last season, the more direct style Tony Pulis' Baggies play should suit his aerial game well. 

It's a good signing from a value perspective. If he returns to his previous levels of production, he'll be a bargain. And if things don't work out, they didn't sink a large investment into him. So it's a deal that makes sense from all angles.

Now it's up to Lambert to show last season's lackluster scoring output wasn't a sign of things to come.