‘He’d do great’: Pundit says £20m star should join Spurs but has one doubt

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Tottenham Hotspur would be a “great move” for Danny Ings after the Southampton striker turned down a new contract at St Mary’s, former Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara has told talkSPORT (5 July, 9.30am).

Well, Southampton certainly know how Spurs are feeling right now.

As Harry Kane continues to push for a move away from his boyhood club, the Saints suddenly find themselves in a similar position, fighting a losing battle as they look to tie down their talismanic centre-forward.

At least Kane has another three years on his contract, meaning Daniel Levy is under no immediate pressure to cash in.

Ings, in contrast, will be a free agent in 12 months’ time.

Either Southampton cash in now or risk losing a £20 million asset for nothing.

Could Danny Ings shine at Spurs?

A few months ago, talkSPORT reported Tottenham were interested in Ings and, with the 28-year-old now turning down the chance to become Southampton’s best-paid player in history, those rumours may be about to return with a vengeance (Athletic).

“(Spurs) would be a great move for him,” says O’Hara, whose career also took in Wolverhampton Wanderers and Portsmouth.

“He had a terrible injury at Liverpool but I think he’s good enough to be at a club like that. I think if you can get (Ings) to Tottenham, if we go and lose Harry Kane and then spend a few quid on someone like him, I think he’d do great.

“Southampton gave him the platform to go and progress himself – (but) then you’ve got to weigh up the options. ‘Is there more for me? Can I push on again?’

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“If you don’t take that step, sometimes you can look back on it and regret it. You can never question a player turning down a contract and saying he wants more, to go to a big club. I think he’s got the ability to play at a top, top club.”

O’Hara, however, does have one caveat. He wonders whether Ings could adapt to life in Nuno Espirito Santo’s preferred sole-striker system having formed a terrific understanding with Che Adams on the South Coast.

“The only question over him is whether he can play as a nine on his own,” O’Hara adds.

“At Southampton, he played alongside Adams. If you go to a club like Tottenham, a lot of them play with one striker. Can he lead a line like Jamie Vardy, like Harry Kane, at a big club?”