Paul Merson suggested on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday (19/02, 14:39) that Steven Gerrard could look to sell Aston Villa’s Dany Ings and would welcome Arsenal targeting a transfer.
Ings only moved to Villa Park from Southampton last summer but has struggled to cement a vital role in Birmingham. Dean Smith bet big on the England international’s arrival, with the former Villans boss agreeing to pay £25m – plus a further £5m in potential add-ons.
The forward had entered the final year of his contract with Southampton before leaving St Mary’s, as well. But the Saints secured favourable terms after the 29-year-old produced a 12-goal campaign during the 2020/21 season. He also offered four assists over 29 games.
Yet Smith struggled to get Ings playing at his best as he strived to shoehorn the striker into a two-man attack with Ollie Watkins. It meant the three-cap Three Lions striker only scored three in nine games under Smith. And he has continued to struggle since Gerrard’s arrival.
Aston Villa’s clash with Watford on Saturday marked just Ings’ fifth start from 11 available games since Gerrard’s November arrival. The Villans boss sought to make a change to his frontline with Watkins failing to score over his previous five outings since December 14.
Merson backs Arsenal to raid Aston Villa for Danny Ings transfer ‘all day long’
Arsenal icon Merson expects Gerrard will consider Ings’ future at Aston Villa ahead of the next transfer window unless the forward can prove why Smith took him to Birmingham.
The Gunners hero would also back his former side to raid Villa Park if Gerrard does look to cash in. Youngster Folarin Balogun could be Mikel Arteta’s only centre-forward as it stands next season with Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah both out of contract this summer.
“I definitely think Gerrard will be looking at his situation,” Merson said. “I don’t think he’ll want to have someone there [who doesn’t want to be]. [Emi] Buendia’s there, one of them will get moved on, I don’t know who, you’ve got Ings, Buendia and [Philippe] Coutinho.
“If he [Coutinho] keeps doing what he’s doing, they will [buy him]. Villa fans will make sure they do. So, you’ve got three players there who want to come off and provide for people.
“Well, Ings for me is a goalscorer – Ings would go anywhere. If I was Arsenal, I’d take him all day long. I think he’s top-draw, but he needs to be in the team and sometimes you go to other places and it doesn’t suit the way you play.”
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