Ings rejects biggest contract in Southampton history, Spurs and Man City primed
Martin Macdonald
- 5 Jul 2021 12:33 BST
Danny Ings has rejected a new deal with Southampton that would have seen him become the highest-paid player in the club's history.
The Athletic reported on Monday that Ings officially rejected the offer in the hopes of earning a move away to potentially player for a more elite side.
The English striker has 12 months left on his current deal which means that if Southampton hope to get a transfer fee it will likely be this summer in which he needs to be sold.
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Should he stay until 2022 he will be free to leave on a free transfer.
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl previously told Sky Sports that he expected Ings to stay, saying:
"I think Danny, especially, will stay with us.
"He knows with all his injuries he has had he has a very good spot to perform and come back, and I think this is important for a player.
"It's a risk to go into a final year of a contract with the risk of getting another injury, then things can be gone. It's something every player has to answer for themselves, and we hope he'll be with us for longer."
Ings has already had a big move not quite work out in his career as he joined Liverpool as a free agent in 2015.
🚨 EXCL: Danny Ings turns down new 4y contract at Southampton. Deal would’ve made him best-paid player in #SaintsFC history but 28yo wants to test himself at higher level. Club must decide whether to sell this summer or lose for free in 2022 @TheAthleticUK https://t.co/ilVgZzcFJq
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 5, 2021
Over his two seasons at Anfield he started just six Premier League games, mostly due to a cruciate ligament injury suffered.
Ings would eventually leave on loan to Southampton before joining permanently and it is at St. Mary's where he's found the best form of his career, scoring 34 goals in 67 Premier League games.
Who could sign Ings?
As Ings would be available at a knockdown price due to the length remaining on his contract, a host of Premier League sides have been credited with an interest in him.
I think Danny, especially, will stay with us- Ralph HasenhuttlThe club believed to hold the most concrete interest are Manchester City, who are looking for a replacement for Sergio Aguero who left for Barcelona this summer.
City are also targeting Erling Haaland and Harry Kane but view Ings as a cheaper alternative.
He could potentially act as a replacement for another star striker, as Tottenham want him to fill Kane's shoes should the England striker complete a huge switch to Man City or Manchester United.
The Red Devils have also been rumoured for a potential transfer, but this seems the least likely of the three as Edinson Cavani has extended his stay at Old Trafford by a further year.
