Southampton striker Danny Ings looks as though he could leave St Mary’s for a new challenge this summer. The England international joined the Saints from Liverpool in the summer of 2018 on loan, before making his move permanent that season. Since then the former Burnley man has scored 42 goals in 92 appearances for Southampton.
Reports coming from Sky Sports suggest Manchester City are seeking Danny Ings as an immediate replacement for Sergio Aguero, with the Argentine out of contract in the summer with little likelihood of a renewal.
The likes of Erling Haaland are reported to be high on the wish list of Pep Guardiola this summer, likewise with the out of contract Lionel Messi, however, it seems as if Ings might the most likely man to arrive with the destined champions.
As of now, Ings is 3/1 to move to the Etihad, and right now, nothing has moved in this aspect other than Sky Sports reports, but given the need to replace Aguero, it might be one worth taking for City. It all just seems a little bit too weak of a settlement for them, given their constant links with Messi and Haaland.
West Ham United are the favourites to sign Saints striker Ings, as they currently only have one striker at the club in Michail Antonio, following the sale of Sebastien Haller to Ajax in January.
Ings wouldn’t only just provide a younger option to the former Nottingham Forest man, as Antonio turns 31-years-old later this month compared to Ings who is 28-years-old, he would also provide a more clinical goal threat, having scored 30 Premier League goals since the start of last season compared to the Jamaica-born strikers 17.
Tottenham Hotspur have also been linked to Ings following the recent news that Harry Kane could be set to depart the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Daniel Levy reportedly putting a £120m price tag on the England captain.
Spurs are also unsure about the future of striker Carlos Vinicius who joined the club on loan from Benfica with a £36m option to buy in last summer’s transfer window. The 26-year-old Brazilian has only played 258 minutes in the Premier League this season, suggesting that he doesn’t have a future at the club past this season.
Ings could be a perfect replacement, as he is a proven goalscorer that would likely get better service from his teammates at Tottenham than he does at Southampton if he was to line-up with the likes of Lucas Moura and Heung-Min Son.
The next club on this list is Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City. The Northern Irishman previously managed Ings when the 28-year-old played at Liverpool and ironically scored his last goal whilst in charge of the Reds, in a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park early on in the 2015/16 season.
With Leicester shifting systems under Rodgers to a 5-2-1-2 with the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho partnering Jamie Vardy upfront, this could open the door for the likes of Ings, as the Foxes would be left short on striker options. Ings has often had comparisons to Vardy due to his playstyle, and with the Foxes man turning 34-years-old this season, Ings could possibly be the ideal long-term replacement.
Leicester City have the odds of 12/1 to add Ings to their squad this summer.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton have also been linked to the former Liverpool man, as the Toffees are looking to build on the impressive foundations that the Italian has set since joining the Merseyside club.
Everton usually opt to play a 4-2-3-1 system with Dominic Calvert-Lewin upfront and are very reliant on the Sheffield born striker for goals. With the possibility of the Toffees playing in Europe next season, they will more than likely need to add more depth to their squad so that the likes of Calvert-Lewin don’t risk burnout.
The arrival of Ings could also see Everton move back to playing 4-4-2, as they did when Ancelotti first moved to Goodison, which would allow his side to be tactically more versatile.
Everton are priced at 16/1 to take Ings back to Merseyside in the upcoming transfer window.
Arsenal are the final club on this list to be rumoured to be looking at Ings.
Alexandre Lacazette’s contract at the Emirates Stadium is set to run out at the end of next season, and with the Frenchman rumoured to be looking to leave the Gunners, this could possibly be an ideal opportunity for Arsenal to slash their wage budget and to sign Ings.
The most goals Lacazette has scored in a single Premier League season so far is 14 in 2017/18 which doesn’t justify his £182,000 per week wage. This could be the ideal chance for the Gunners to slash some more money off their wage budget.