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Liverpool are the latest club to be urged towards Danny Ings after it emerged that the striker turned down the offer of a lucrative new contract at Southampton. Ings spent four years at Anfield and is believed to want a return to a top English club who can compete for trophies over the coming years.
Interest from clubs like Manchester City and Tottenham are thought to have played a part in Ings’ decision to turn down the contract which would have made him the best paid player in Saints’ history.
Having bagged 34 league goals over the past two seasons, Ings has rediscovered his best form and is among the division’s best front-men.
The news of the 28-year-old’s availability certainly excited former Liverpool defender Jose Enrique.
The Spaniard said via Instagram: “This option that nobody talked about before and has been in the news now - for me it would be great.
Danny Ings has rejected a new contract at Southampton (Image: GETTY)
“I know Danny very well, he’s a great man. Obviously, he was at Liverpool before and we know how much the fans love him.
“He always gave 100 per cent on the pitch, the kind of player with a great attitude, great work rate and great qualities.
“I believe the price would not be crazy with just one year left on his contract. Definitely, I believe he is a really good option for us.”
Ings and Enrique overlapped during their respective spells at Anfield, although the Englishman did not see much of the pitch thanks to a period blighted by injuries.
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Thus, it appears that the England international has unfinished business at the top level now that he has rediscovered his goal-scoring form on the south coast.
Now in his late-twenties, Ings naturally would like to take that leap of faith while he is still in the prime of his career.
It would be a brave choice however, given that he would be leaving a side where he is the undisputed talisman to join one where he would be scrapping for minutes up top.
Still, Liverpool are not the only club with a chance of signing him. Spurs could be in need of his services if Harry Kane gets his wish and moves on to pastures new.
Harry Kane has scored three goals at Euro 2020 (Image: GETTY)
With persistent interest from Man City, Kane could be the subject of a humongous bid after Euro 2020 if Pep Guardiola is indeed serious about his interest in the England captain.
This would leave Spurs without a proven top-class striker, and they could do much worse than to recruit Ings.
Certainly, for clubs in the market for a striker this summer, Ings’ contract development has thrown the cat amongst the pigeons. Whether he fancies a reunion on Merseyside, or indeed whether they fancy a reunion with him, should become clear over the coming weeks.