The Athletic: Danny Ings signs new long-term contract, but not for Southampton.

I see your a dab hand at puns.

 

This cod go on and on (and on, and on, and on, and on, and....) Is there no way trout?

 

No need to carp on and on about though.

 

Are these puns in-tench-ional?

 

I'll tell you in a minnow.

 

It seems inconceivable that Ings is not 100% satisfied at St Mary's. I appreciate the comment about getting one last move in his career whilst thinking that he would only ever be a squad player at either Spurs or Man Utd. The Liverpool connection makes me think the latter would be ruled out and even if Spurs fancy Ings, you would have to factor in being behind both Son and Kane as well as having the added risk that Mourinho is so erratic and you never really know what might happen there. I personally thing that the biggest threat comes with a bid from Arsenal where you feel Ings would be an automatic first choice. Arsenal are very much in transition and effectively have to start from the bottom. They have some good youngsters and until they mature, you could see Ings serving as a stop gap. However, in the current circumstances, if the old chestnut about "European football" comes in to the equation, at this point in time it looks more likely with Saints than the Gunners - although this could change in the spring. (FA cup best bet for Arsenal , I think.)

I find it annoying that as soon as we get anyone half decent, they are coveted by larger clubs. I suppose there is some mercy in the fact that Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City look like they don't need much strengthening. I would have said the same about Spurs although the paper talk about Mourinho's interest suggests otherwise.

 

Why do so many people think his contract expires next summer? Do some research.

 

Why do so many people think his contract expires next summer? Do some research.

 

It's the weird way that years work in football: 'next summer' means 'the summer after next season', so it's both totally correct and utterly wrong.

 

I’m pretty sure this is why years are numbered. To avoid confusing situations like this.

Even I know the difference between 2021 and 2022.

 

Is that BC or AD (Now confusingly known as BCE and CE)?

 

Is it old style or new style or the Jewish or Muslim Calendar?

 

I notice Ings won goal of the month on MOTD last night. That will be his agent asking for a few more grand a week.

 

Maybe what he's after is European football rather than money, and he's waiting to see if that will be with us?

Let's be honest, there are many better teams and bigger clubs that would want him and could offer more money + a better chance of European football.

For me, he starts at: Man Utd, Wolves & Arsenal.

He would play regularly for: Spurs & Leicester.

He would improve the squad and get minutes for: City & Liverpool. He'd arguably get decent minutes at both because City only have two strikers, and Liverpool have 1 who doesn't score and a manager who is obsessed over the fixture schedule.

The only clubs he wouldn't play much at is maybe Everton who have DCL and Chelsea who have Giroud, Werner and Abraham.

From our side - he is happy again in his career and in the form of his life. He's had three knee injuries in recent years (with two serious ones) and we have shown faith in him which he may want to return. He also has broken back into the England team while being at us and the Euros and World Cup are approaching. He seems very happy.

Overall he has many, many options and I don't blame him for weighing them all up/taking this long.

 

Good assessment of the situation. I'm hoping/expecting the quality of life at Southampton overcomes the attractions and rewards offered elsewhere.

 

He might get in at Chelsea when we negotiate a straight swap with Werner

 

Good assessment, I actually think he starts for man City at this point in time too.

With aguero out, id much rather Ings than Jesus