Southampton striker Danny Ings would be the ‘perfect fit’ for Tottenham Hotspur amid reports linking the England international with a move to Jose Mourinho’s side, Jamie O’Hara tells talkSPORT (January 21, 8.30am).
With Spurs’ hopes of a Premier League title-charge being consistency undermined by the lack of a killer instinct, who better to bring in than one of the most hard-working, technically-gifted and ruthless centre-forwards in the entire division?
Ings has just over a year left on his contract and, according to talkSPORT, Tottenham are watching the situation closely as talks over a new deal hit an impasse.
The £20 million striker is at odds with the Southampton bosses over the inclusion of a release-clause which, in theory, would give him the freedom to depart if one of the biggest clubs came calling.
And former Tottenham ace O’Hara believes that Ings is capable of forging a fine partnership with Harry Kane while representing a substantial upgrade on Benfica loanee Carlos Vinicius.
“Danny Ings, I really like him. I think he’d be a perfect fit for Man City, for Spurs, for Arsenal – he could play in a top six side for sure. He’s obviously a very talented footballer,” said O’Hara, who rose through the ranks at Spurs before spending six years in the first-team.
“I think Spurs should try and get him.
“Harry Kane, in this system, is basically a number ten so he’d just drop in as a number ten (and play alongside Ings). He doesn’t play as a ‘proper’ centre-forward in this system.
“I like Carlos Vinicius but Ings is much better. Ings would be a good signing because the only player who really gets beyond (the striker) is (Heung-Min) Son.”
Tottenham have the option to sign Vinicius on a permanent basis at the end of the season but, despite some eye-catching displays in cup competitions, the Brazilian has not done quite enough to justify a £40 million price-tag.
Furthermore, with just 24 minutes of Premier League football under his belt, there is a nagging feeling that Mourinho does not trust Vinicius against top-quality opposition.
He’s started a grand total of five games thus far, against the likes of LASK, Ludogorets and seventh-tier Marine FC.
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