Danny Ings confirms West Ham United exit situation after club wanted rid amid Southampton links
Danny Ings has confirmed that he was never close to leaving West Ham in the summer despite links to a move.
The Hammers striker spoke after scoring a 95th-minute equaliser to snatch a point in the 1-1 draw at Fulham, just his fifth for the club since arriving from Aston Villa in January 2023.
During a summer transfer window where the Irons recruited heavily the 32-year-old was one of a host of incumbents who were believed to be available to go, with talkSPORT reporting on 13 August the club were “desperate” to get rid of him in order to get his £130,000-a-week contract.
Former side Southampton were interested in a deal [talkSPORT, 29 May] but he rejected the opportunity to remain at the London Stadium [GiveMeSport, 6 September].
When asked how close he came to leaving Ings said, via The Athletic (16 September) “To be honest, not close at all. My main goal is to help West Ham and do the best I can.”
He added: “It is hard for sure [not playing] but I have a lot of experience and have been in this situation many times before. But when you come and score like today, it makes all those sacrifices worthwhile.”
Danny Ings rescues West Ham in Fulham draw
Few would have been especially sad to see Ings go in the summer after such a disappointing goal return but after new boss Julen Lopetegui performed a “u-turn” in his assessment of the forward it might be starting to pay off.
It’s probably representative of some of the early frustrations with the Spaniard that Ings is in the spotlight at all when the former Wolves boss has shown a commitment to many of the David Moyes-era players despite Tim Steidten securing well over £100million worth of new signings.
And when Jhon Duran is making so many headlines at Villa after West Ham failed to prize him away, despite him wanting the move [James Nursey, 22 July], it makes the Hammers striking options look that much more disappointing.
The Irons were still chasing the Colombian even after finally securing a new senior striker in Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund and Ings was one of the candidates to leave in order to make space [HITC, 14 August].
But since the Englishman clearly wasn’t interested in a move, which likely complicated the pursuit of Duran, he will need to continue having an impact like he did off the bench at Craven Cottage at the weekend.
With Fullkrug injured and Michail Antonio looking past his best there is an opportunity for him to build from his dramatic equaliser.
It might not satisfy supporters who can’t help noticing what they might have won if Duran keeps up his current form, but it will go some way to belatedly justifying Ing’s own move from Villa Park for £15m nearly two years ago [Sky Sports].
In other West Ham news, Lopetegui has issued a confirmed squad update amid links to a free agent signing.
For more West Ham news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.