Danny Ings tipped to stay at Aston Villa despite ‘A-list striker’ signing incoming – McLeish
Alex McLeish has urged Aston Villa to keep hold of Danny Ings even if they go into the market for an “A-list striker” during the summer window.
The former Villa boss, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the 29-year-old is a “lively and really quality striker”.
This site revealed on Wednesday (25 May) that Aston Villa will listen to offers for Ings this summer amid interest from Brighton.
A Villa source told Football Insider that Steven Gerrard wants an A-list striker signing and is ready to allow the former Southampton man to leave to part-fund the deal.
McLeish insisted a new forward could take Villa to the next “level” but suggested Ings could be a useful squad option.
When asked for a potential reason for Ings’ potential departure, he told Football Insider‘s Russell Edge: “We don’t work with him every day.
“There could be something Gerrard has seen or not seen from him on the training ground.
“On paper, I like Danny Ings. He’s a lively player and a really quality striker.
“Alex Ferguson used to have a really high-quality pool of strikers and really rotate them, and that’s the level Steven Gerrard wants to be at – I’m sure.
“To get to that next bracket, maybe he has to go into the market and get someone above Danny’s level. But I’d keep him and his experience around, for sure.
“Ollie Watkins as well. They’re two good players, but I think Gerrard will be looking for something else to give Villa that edge going forward.”
Ings scored seven league goals in his first season since completing a reported £25million move to Aston Villa.
The Midlands giants have already completed the captures of Philippe Coutinho, Boubacar Kamara, and Diego Carlos during the off-season.
In other news, pundit claims Aston Villa could now sign Yves Bissouma after confirmed news.