Leeds target Danny Ings’ 2015 comments about Liverpool shirt number shows he has attitude to be extremely popular signing

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Leeds United have been linked with a move for Liverpool striker Danny Ings ahead of the January transfer window.

According to a recent report from ESPN, Leeds are keen on signing Liverpool striker Danny Ings during the January transfer window as they look to strengthen their Championship promotion hopes.

When fit, Ings has looked good in the Premier League and was previously prolific in the second tier, inspiring Burnley to promotion in 2015.

However, his problems with injury have meant that he has not played a league game since 2015. So while he has the quality to be a good addition to Thomas Christiansen’s side, Leeds fans would be forgiven for questioning whether he would be a smart signing if he arrived at Elland Road in the summer.

But some comments Ings made in 2015 following his move to Anfield certainly suggest that he has the attitude to become an extremely popular addition to the Whites ranks if he did join.

Ings took the number 28 shirt shortly after arriving on Merseyside despite a number of famous shirt numbers being up for grabs at the time, but, in comments reported by the Independent, the Englishman insisted that he felt that he needed to earn a lower number and insisted that he planned to do so.

“I would make sure I am established before taking any of those numbers [like No 7 or 8]. It is such a huge club. That was the thinking behind it. I wouldn’t want to go to Liverpool and chuck a shirt on my back like that, it is pressure you don’t need. The expectation at clubs like that is huge. Obviously I am going to work my socks off to earn that kind of number one day. For now I will take a high number and work hard,” he said, as reported by the Independent.

Of course, injury has meant that Ings has not really had a chance to prove himself worthy of a more significant shirt number, but that desire to prove a point surely says a lot about his mentality.

And while spending so long on the sidelines would have left many feeling sorry for themselves, Ings’ comments from two years ago hint that he would be more motivated than ever to prove his critics wrong when he gets the chance to impress.

And that kind of attitude would make him a tremendous asset to Christiansen’s squad if Leeds were able to land him in some capacity in January – and if he could find the form that tempted Liverpool to go after him in the first place, Leeds may be reflecting on a masterstroke if they manage to complete a deal.