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Rickie Lambert will be announced as a Liverpool player tomorrow – but the move for his Southampton team-mate Adam Lallana is poised to drag on.

Lambert will become Brendan Rodgers’ first major signing of the summer after passing a medical and agreeing terms on a two-year contract.

The 32-year-old Kirkby-born forward arrived at the city’s Spire Hospital at around nine o’clock yesterday morning and was then taken to Melwood ahead of a flight back down to Southampton later in the afternoon.

The Reds had already agreed a fee in the region of £4million with Southampton, with the transfer completed tomorrow when the relevant paperwork is registered.

However, Liverpool’s pursuit of Lallana has reached an impasse with the Saints digging in their heels over the 26-year-old midfielder.

Southampton rejected the Reds’ opening bid of £20m and have shown no signs of accepting an improved final offer of £25m.

The Saints are seeking top dollar as they must pass on a 25% of the fee to Lallana’s former club Bournemouth.

Lallana is being courted by several other teams – including Tottenham Hotspur, now managed by his former Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino – but the player would prefer to play Champions League football at Anfield next season.

Lambert spoke briefly at Liverpool Airport before flying back south following yesterday’s medical.

“The medical went well but as you know I can’t say anything,” he said. “I’ll speak properly about it, hopefully, very shortly.

“It’s been a crazy football year to be honest, the way it’s carrying on.”

Having helped Saints to two promotions and then impressing in the Premier League, he admits he will leave St Mary’s with a heavy heart.

He said: “There’s lots of emotions as you can imagine so it’s something I need to address and obviously I will address all parties when I get the chance.”

Liverpool were keen to conclude negotiations with Lambert heading off to England’s pre-World Cup training camp in the United States today.

With Lallana also part of Roy Hodgson’s 23-man squad , the Reds are likely to face a wait before discovering the outcome of their prolonged pursuit of the midfielder.

Meanwhile, both Lambert and Lallana come up against surprise opposition at the World Cup in the form of Liverpool centre-back Sebastian Coates.

Coates suffered a serious knee injury in August and spent the second half of last season back home in Uruguay on loan at Nacional to continue his rehabilitation.

And a clutch of performances in recent weeks has been enough to earn Coates a place in Uruguay’s World Cup squad along with Luis Suarez.

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