Paul Lambert is keen on a reunion with Danny Graham as Ipswich Town become the latest club to be linked with the free agent striker.

Graham’s four-and-a-half year association with Rovers ended two weeks ago when the club revealed his contract wouldn’t be extended for 2020/21.

The striker scored 57 times for Rovers, including 17 in their League One promotion campaign, and there have been tentative talks about a possible return to former club Sunderland as he seeks out a new club. 

Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson had been keen on signing Graham in the summer of 2018 when in charge of Bolton Wanderers.

However, Ipswich Town, who like the Black Cats will be among the favourites to get out of League One next season, have put their case forward to land the striker.

Their case will be boosted by the presence of Lambert, the man who brought Graham to Ewood Park on loan in January 2016, a move which the player credits for bringing back his love for the game after a troubled spell with the Black Cats.

Lambert left Rovers that summer, but the wheels were already in motion for a permanent switch, and the Ipswich boss is in the market for a striker again as he looks to add more firepower to his ranks.

Graham scored on his last visit to Portman Road, which came on the opening day of the 2018/19 season, and believes he can go on to play for another three years as he searches for a new club after his Rovers departure.

Graham turns 35 next week, but asked what lies ahead in the future, he said: “More goals. Hopefully more milestones.

“I do feel as though I’ve got two to three years left playing at a good level, if my body allows that. I’ve still got that drive to go on and be successful and do well.”

Graham turned down the opportunity of a mid-season switch to West Sydney Wanderers to fight for his place at Rovers where he scored four times last season.

He became a big hit at the club, both on and off the field, and leaves with great memories, and a fuller contacts list on his phone.

“I’ve had some special bonds ever since I’ve come into the football club. There’s a lot of players that I still speak to who have moved on since I was on loan here,” he told the club website.

“And obviously the bond we have day-in day-out is unbelievable.”

 “The team spirit we have, it’s made this football club grow again and hopefully that can continue.

“We’ve got a lot of good characters in the dressing room and, like I say, it was all part of building that team spirit, which at the time you probably didn’t think we needed, but actually we did and I think that’s gone a long way to helping us be successful.”