WEST Brom are expected to step up their interest in Saints legend Rickie Lambert in the next 24 hours.

The Baggies are keen to bring the striker to The Hawthorns and talks are set to take place between all parties to end Lambert's Liverpool misery.

A deal could be wrapped up by the end of the week with Albion's transfer activity expected to gather pace now boss Tony Pulis has returned from the United States following their three-game tour.

Pulis is hunting a new striker to help Saido Berahino with question marks over record signing Brown Ideye's future following a disappointing first season in England.

Lambert also struggled to make an impact at Liverpool after a move from Saints last summer with the 33-year-old scoring just three times in 36 appearances.

He rejected a deadline day move to Aston Villa in February with the forward insisting he did not want to leave the club he supported as a youngster after just half a season.

But the England international will also fall down the pecking order on Merseyside with the impending arrival of Christian Benteke, with the Aston Villa striker set to complete a £32.5million transfer to Anfield.

That follows the arrival of Burnley's Danny Ings earlier this summer.

Pulis is overhauling his squad this summer with QPR's Matt Phillips and Arsenal's Serge Gnabry on his radar.

Michail Antonio - once a Saints team-mate of Lambert in 2009/10 during the club's third division days - remains a target despite West Brom having a £5million bid rejected by Nottingham Forest last week.

It is understood the Baggies remain confident they can land the winger.