Jeff Stelling moots West Ham move for Southampton striker Danny Ings
Jeff Stelling has suggested that West Ham should sign Southampton striker Danny Ings in the summer transfer window.
Ings, 28, scored 12 Premier League goals in 29 appearances during the 2020/21 campaign, with ex-Irons defender Danny Gabbidon calling him “sensational” on Twitter after a goal against Wolves in February.
TalkSPORT journalist Alex Crook claimed last month that West Ham were interested in him in signing him.
Speaking on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday [23/05/21], Stelling asked pundit Sue Smith whether the ex-Liverpool forward would suit David Moyes’ side.
“I just wonder about Danny Ings,” he said.
“It sounds like he may want a move, would he fit the bill for West Ham?”
Smith replied, “Of course he would, he’s so vital for Southampton.
“When he’s fit he’s a clinical striker.
“A fully-fit Ings would be an asset to any team, Southampton will desperately want to keep him but of course he would fit into West Ham.
“To have someone else who can come in or play alongside [Michail] Antonio would be great to have.”
Another injury-prone striker…
Our forward issues are two-fold.
One problem is the lack of options at the top of the pitch after Sebastien Haller was sold to Ajax in January, leaving just Antonio as a senior option.
Antonio is among the most feared forwards in the Premier League when he’s fit and firing.
Unfortunately, that isn’t often enough.
In six seasons at West Ham he has reached the 30 game barrier just once in the Premier League, and the last two campaigns have seen him average 25 games.
For a team hoping to become a mainstay in the European places, it’s just not enough.
Jarrod Bowen and Jesse Lingard were tasked with covering for Antonio during his absences in the second half of the season and while they didn’t let the side down, it took away from their natural games.
We would be taking a big risk in signing Ings this summer.
He played every single Premier League game last season but his other two seasons at Southampton have seen him miss 23 matches, while his injury-ravaged spell at Liverpool brought just 14 outings.
At 28-years-old, it’s just a gamble not worth taking.
In other West Ham news, Irons ready eight-digit bid for wantaway international star who ‘can do it all’.
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