Southampton: Saints have plenty in their favour in Ings contract situation

Southampton have a situation on their hands with Danny Ings stalling on a decision to sign a new contract – despite terms reportedly being agreed.

A report from the Telegraph on Tuesday evening suggested that the striker was assessing his options and whether a move to a Champions League club could be realistic this coming summer.

The 28-year-old’s current deal at St Mary’s expires in June 2022 and Saints will be wanting a good price if they are to lose him. They will also be hoping that they can keep their star man for longer though.

When looking a the bigger picture, it is clear to see that Saints still have plenty in their favour here.

Moving away would be a huge risk for Ings

If we look at what Ings has at Saints, things cannot get much better.

He is playing the best football of his career, has overcome injury issues that plagued him in the past, is a crucial part of the team and playing every week and has a contract on the table that will make him the club’s highest-paid player ever – potentially £80,000 per week and up based on reports following a previous deal signed by Fraser Forster.

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This progress in his career has come from his own work but has been hugely helped by those at St Mary’s. Ralph Hasenhuttl’s style of play is just perfect for the type of striker Ings is.

Recognition has also come from England in the form of two more international caps, regular call-ups to squads and a first goal in a Three Lions shirt with that spectacular overhead kick against Wales.

If it is a move to a “top four” side that Ings wants, there will be significant risks involved.

If we look at the squads at Manchester United, Manchester City, Spurs, Liverpool and Chelsea, City Spurs and Liverpool can be seen as having a lack of options at striker. However, they all play different styles that may not suit Ings and all have a marquee striker – Sergio Aguero, Harry Kane and Roberto Firmino – potentially in his way.

Things may change for each of these clubs in the summer, but it would be foolish to suggest that they would build their team around Ings.

If there is one thing that Saints’ number nine will have learnt over the past few years, it’s that he has to be playing games and scoring to keep his place in the England setup. His game time would certainly be limited and he would be gambling what he has built for a limited shot at the big time.

Furthermore, he would be unlikely to get a contract as loaded as Saints are offering. Top four clubs would be able to offer more money in wages overall but the allocation of that wage to Ings would certainly be smaller.

Looking from a Saints perspective, there is nothing to lose in the situation they are in. Ralph Hasenhuttl has committed to a new contract and been joined by key players too, and they will be eager to keep pushing as far as they can up the Premier League table with European qualification the ultimate goal.

A highly competitive battle around the top four would mean there is plenty for Ings to lose if he moves on to one of the bigger clubs. All it would take would be a finish outside the Champions League spots for some and a managerial sacking is on the way, and this would see Ings back to square one.

For Ings at 28, it is understandable to be assessing options at a stage where the prime of a career fast becomes the latter stages of career. It is also positive that he will continue to play for Saints in the meantime and retains a good relationship with those around him.

Saints fans will also play a part and should remain behind him. His goalscoring ability has the potential to keep Saints in that fight for Europe this season – and potentially beyond – and he will appreciate the support having grown up as a Saints fan from Winchester.

A solution will inevitably emerge as we move further towards the summer but it will ultimately be up to the player: the easy option or the gamble?