Harry Redknapp is not surprised to see Danny Ings linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur, but believes the Southampton striker would struggle to replace the talismanic Harry Kane, as he told talkSPORT (18 May, 9:00am).
Eight years ago, Spurs sold their best player after a summer of relentless speculation and discovered that, even with a mountain of cash at your disposal, filling a massive void in your starting XI is easier said than done.
With Sky reporting that Harry Kane has informed Tottenham of his desire to leave his boyhood club before 2021/22 kicks off, fans will be hoping Daniel Levy does a better job of replacing the England international than he did of moving on from Gareth Bale almost a decade ago.
The Mirror (16 May, page 67) reiterated Tottenham’s interest in Danny Ings; a technically gifted, positionally versatile centre-forward who can lead the line on his own or as part of an old-school strike partnership.
But while there are undoubted similarities between Ings and the man he may end up replacing at Spurs, Redknapp fears that the one-time Liverpool youngster, for all his qualities, would represent something of a downgrade on arguably Europe’s finest number nine.
“He’s right up Daniel’s street!” Redknapp quipped, referencing Ings’ precarious contract situation.
“Danny Ings is a good player, a good goal-scorer. Short-term yeah (he’d be a good signing).
“I’m not being disrespectful to Danny, as good as he is he’s not Harry Kane.”
If Tottenham decide against bringing in a proven Premier League attacker, Redknapp believes his former employers may be tempted to look at the division below, where the irrepressible Ivan Toney has broken the record for the most goals (31) in a single Championship seaosn.
“Are you going to take a gamble and go for the lad at Brentford? It’s a gamble. There’s no doubt he can score at the top level, he’s been fantastic,” Redknapp added.
“Where are the best centre-forwards? (Jamie) Vardy, he’s not going to move. Who is there you can take at Tottenham who can fill Harry Kane’s boots?”
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