Ralph Hasenhuttl believes Danny Ings is definitely to be a long-term part of his plans at Southampton after the forward’s heroics in the 2019/20 season.
The 27-year-old initially joined the Saints on loan for the 2018/19 season, injuries and lack of fitness meant that his stay at Anfield was cut short.
Despite having a not too spectacular campaign in his first season at St. Mary’s Park, the south coast side decided to take the risk and side the player last summer in a deal that could rise to £20 million.
The England international’s two goals against Watford added to his Premier League goal tally to make it 18, three shy of Jamie Vardy. And with such an improved performance, Gareth Southgate will be looking to draft him into the team again.
“One of the positives in this is Danny is one of our own and he’s a guy who really enjoys being with us and playing on this areas,” Southampton boss Hasenhuttl said via. Skysports.
“The top six have fantastic strikers in their squad and he has a history with injuries, for sure. But he is at an age where it is more comfortable for him to be at a club where he knows what he has.
“He’s absolutely conformed to what we are doing and how we play. The intensity of how we play is absolutely fantastic for him. But, yes, you never know when someone comes and pays us £100million for him. I don’t know what we do then and what he does then.
“But I don’t see this at the moment. I think for him it’s more important he sees what he has here. He has two more years left on his contract. And I really can see that he stays even longer after that.”
Southampton, despite bring 14th on the league table have been better at home and will be looking to add to that record when they come up against Manchester City on Sunday evening.
One man who has taken his chances playing at the St. Mary’s Park is Ings, and with no fans at the grounds, he would be hoping to convince the many fans who will tune in on their television sets against Pep Guardiola’s side.
“For us it would maybe not even be possible to get such a striker,” the Austrian continued about cost to quality ratio.
“As with every transfer, there is always a risk if you spend a lot of money, especially for a club like us. We know the bullets we have must find a target because we don’t have so much.
“It was important for him that he stays fit. This was always the biggest question we had about him. He had a long history of injuries, he was never as fit as he is at the moment.
“Hopefully it stays like this and then we will have the future with Danny Ings as a striker who is definitely finding the goal and also working hard for the team.”
