Rafael Benitez’s Newcastle United have once again emerged as an interested party to sign Danny Ings, as per reports from the Northern Echo.
The source claims that Newcastle and Bournemouth considered the possibility of signing Ings on a season-long loan this summer, but the move failed to materialise for some reasons. And now, the Magpies have decided to reignite their interest and are expected to make another move for the striker, once the transfer window reopens in January.
Ings joined Liverpool back in 2015 after a stellar campaign with Burnley, but has failed to establish himself in the first team, all down to his constant injury problems. In his first season with the club, he only managed nine appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals, and played only on two occasions in his second term with the Merseysiders, with serious knee injuries curtailing his involvement.
Liverpool were up against Leicester City in the third round of the EFL Cup and Ings made his first appearance in 11 months in that game when he came on as a second-half substitute. The Reds went on to lose the game 2-0 and got eliminated from the Cup. Till date, Ings has only made 6 Premier League appearances for Liverpool and has spent majority of his playing time with the reserves.
Newcastle’s interest in Ings doesn’t come as a shocker given the fact that Aleksandar Mitrovic is linked with a move away from the Magpies. The Daily Mirror has claimed that Brighton & Hove Albion boss Chris Hughton had sent his scouts to watch Mitrovic during Serbia’s 3-2 loss to Austria on Friday and might make a January move for the striker. The 23-year-old has already been frozen out by Benitez and he might not fight hard to keep the Serb at the club in January.
Signing Ings won’t be a walk in the park for the Magpies as ESPN reported that Leeds United are in the hunt as well. Given the 25-year old’s Championship record of 21 goals in 40 appearances when he last played in the second tier, Leeds are ready to offer him regular minutes.
Furthermore, given that Liverpool already have Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah, Daniel Sturridge and Dominic Solanke in their ranks, Ings certainly has a long fight to acquire a first-team spot. Hence, it is safe to say that a move away from Liverpool, at least on a temporary basis, is something that the 25-year-old might consider.
