With the fitness of Andy Carroll up in the air and nestled in the bottom 3, The Hammers are about to throw the dice in an attempt to keep themselves in the Premier league.
According to National Newspaper reports on this New years day morning, West ham are about to offer Saints £8 million pounds for striker Rickie Lambert.
The initial response from many Saints supporter swill b to tell them where to get off, but that would be before considering the implications of this offer not only to outhampton Football Club but for Rickie himself.
As I said back in September to stand any chance of playing for England in Brazil Rickie has to be playing up front for Saints week in week out and scoring, sadly he hasnt been doing a lot of any of this, this season, this isnt his fault but firstly the folly of playing him and Osvaldo in the same team has not been of benefit for either player, in recent weeks as well not only has Rickie seen Osvaldo preferred to him, but when he has played in the side it hasnt been in the loan central striker role but wider with Jay Rodriguez playing in the more advanced position, to be blunt none of this is doing Rickie's England chances any good, whilst there are those who think he can do a more withdrawn role for Saints, England do not need him to do this, they need an out and out target man as an option.
So the potential move to Upton Park could be attractive to Rickie not only from the point of view of his England chances, but for a player who up until 4 years ago had earnt a modest living from the game it would be a chance for a final big pay day.
But for Saints it could also be an attractive proposition, fisrtly there is the money aspect, £8 million for a player who turns 32 in February is good money, in fact its silly money and with Saints perhaps not going to struggle with relegation this season its a chance to get cash into the coffers to build for next season.
But on the playing side it does offer the opportunity to free up space and play Osvaldo and perhaps try to get our monies worth, even if the Italian doesnt work out there is also the opportunity to use Jay Rodriguez up front which might just offer Gaston Ramirez a lifeline in that J Rod is the type of player who would thrive on Ramirez's ability to play a through ball, Osvaldo possibly to a lesser extend, but one thing is for sure Ramirez and Lambert arent really compatible to any great degree.
But will Nicola Cortese sell, for £8 million its going to be tempting and the way the club has built and improved over the past three seasons is because it hasnt been afraid to drop players, move them on and bring better ones in, Rickie Lambert is a living legend at St Mary's, but every man has his price and £8 million might just be Rickie's.