Aston Villa coach Unai Emery admits he plans to retain Danny Ings despite interest from Premier League rivals West Ham United, Southampton and Everton, speaking to the Birmingham Mail.
Ok, Ings hasn’t exactly set the world alight in claret-and-blue since his £25 million move some 17 months ago. But if you’d asked supporters to name the player they’d ideally want a chance to fall to with Aston Villa a goal down in the 78th minute, you could expect to see Ings’ name at the top of the polls.
The most reliable finisher in Emery’s squad took his tally to three goals in his last two Premier League starts during Wednesday’s 1-1 comeback draw with Midland neighbours Wolverhampton Wanderers, capitalising on a Jose Sa slip to coolly convert from Tyrone Mings’ long pass.
And, after the game, Emery refuted claims that Villa are planning to let Ings go in the January window.
Aston Villa’s Danny Ings is a target for Southampton, West Ham United and Everton
“I spoke with some players about the opportunity to leave. But not with him,” says the former Arsenal and PSG boss. “I didn’t speak to Danny about (leaving) The idea is to keep him in the squad.”
According to talkSPORT, bottom-of-the-table Southampton could look to bring Ings back to St Mary’s, where he played perhaps the best football of his career. Fellow strugglers West Ham and Everton are also keen; The Toffees reportedly seeing a loan bid knocked back by Aston Villa recently (Daily Mail).
But if Emery does know about any bids coming Danny Ings’ way, then he’s certainly in no mood to divulge.
“I don’t know. The club hasn’t told me anything (about any bids),” Emery adds.
“Danny is a very good player in the first XI. Against Brighton (before the World Cup) he scored two goal. And, usually, he gives an impact. Today, we needed him and he helped the team like we needed.
“I’m really so happy with him, his commitment at the beginning and then his performance tonight.”
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