Aston Villa star Watkins issues verdict on £12m Ings transfer to West Ham

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Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins admits it is ‘a shame’ that Danny Ings has left the club. The forward has completed his mid-season transfer to Premier League rivals West Ham United.

The Hammers paid the Villans an initial £12m, rising up to £15m with add-ons, for Ings this Friday. He spent just 18 months at the Birmingham outfit before moving to east London on a two-and-a-half-year contract. Aston Villa paid Southampton £25m, up to £30m, in 2021.

Ings switched one claret-and-blue club for another after failing to replace Watkins as Aston Villa’s first-choice striker under Unai Emery. He only started one of his six top-flight outings under the Spaniard. Even though the 30-year-old also struck three goals over 188 minutes.

Watkins scored one and assisted two goals across five Premier League games under Emery whilst Ings remained in Birmingham. The 27-year-old has now scored a second goal during the Spaniard’s tenure after netting the only goal in a 1-0 win at Southampton on Saturday.

Ings also made his debut for West Ham as a substitute against Everton this Saturday. David Moyes introduced the striker for Michail Antonio in the 72nd minute with his team already 2-0 ahead. Jarrod Bowen (34’, 41’) had produced a match-winning brace before the break.

Watkins admits some regret at Aston Villa sanctioning Ings’ transfer to West Ham

Aston Villa’s win at Southampton ensured the Saints stayed at the bottom of the table on 15 points. Everton have also only taken 15 points from their 20 games but hold a superior goal difference. Despite them losing at West Ham, Everton’s is minus-13 to the Saints’ minus-18.

The Irons, meanwhile, moved up to 15th place with 18 points while the Villans rank in 11th with 28 points. Moyes will hope West Ham’s transfer for Ings from Aston Villa now sees his side pull away from the relegation zone and potentially reduce their gap to Emery’s squad.

Watkins admits some regret at Emery’s decision to permit Ings’ transfer to West Ham from Aston Villa. But the forward is now savouring his opportunity to lead the Birmingham club.

“There’s always pressure when you’re playing for a massive club like Villa,” Watkins said, via quotes by BBC Sport. “It’s a shame but I’m willing to take the responsibility and be the main striker. I’m relishing it.”