Danny Ings in action for Southampton. (imago Images)
According to a report by The Athletic (Subscription Required), Danny Ings is a transfer target for West Ham United after delaying contract talks at Southampton in hopes of a move to a bigger club. The Hammers, however, face competition from two other English clubs; Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa.
The 28-year-old had a troubled spell at Liverpool due to major injury issues but has revived his career at St. Mary’s since joining the Saints in 2018. Since then, he has made 100 appearances for them, scoring 46 goals. But is he a player that West Ham really need? Let us dissect the striker situation at the Hammers to find out more.
In simple terms – West Ham United do not have a centre-forward. Yes, Michail Antonio has been deployed in that position recently, but the Englishman has primarily played on the flanks throughout his career. There is a serious lack of No.9s at the club ever since they sold Jordan Hugill, Sebastian Haller, and Albian Ajeti in the last 12 months or so.
With no incomings in that department yet, David Moyes has had to improvise a lot. Last season, he had to use young right-winger Jarrod Bowen and Manchester United loanee Jesse Lingard as centre-forwards when Antonio was absent.
That means Moyes is likely to be without his make-shift striker for next summer, leaving his team even more devoid of options up front. That puts a big exclamation in the forward department for the Hammers, and it is something that should be prioritized by their Scottish manager this summer.
On a handful of occasions, Moyes has also shown his willingness to field a side with two centre-forwards. And Ings would be a useful acquisition in that regard for the club. He has spent his entire professional career playing in England and would have a decent knowledge of Premier League football by now.
Having played in the top three tiers of English football with clubs such as Bournemouth, Burnley, Southampton, and Liverpool, Ings has a plethora of experience under his belt already. His tally of 38 goals in the last two seasons also shows that he is back among the goals after a troubled spell in Merseyside.
The ideal part for West Ham about Ings’ situation would be his refusal to sign a new contract. That means he has just one year left on his deal that expires in the summer of 2022 (h/t BBC). And that immediately puts any interested clubs in a strong position when transfer negotiations are concerned because of the consequences it holds for the player’s current club.
Failure to sell him this summer and Ings’ refusal to sign a new contract could very well mean that Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side could lose their star striker for nothing next year. Ings, at 28, is also arguably in the prime years of his career and is at a point where he can play at the top level for a number of years.
