Manchester United turn to Southampton striker Danny Ings

Manchester United are reportedly interested in Southampton striker Danny Ings, who has a year left on his contract.

The Southampton forward has previously said he wants to move back to a side who play Champions League football after enjoying the best form of his career. He has 13 goals so far this season and 25 last year, and has an outside chance of being picked by Gareth Southgate to go to the rescheduled European Championships this summer.

With his contract due to expire next summer, Southampton might consider selling him at a reduced fee in order to avoid losing him for nothing when he can sign for another club.

United are somewhat surprisingly interested in Ings because it had been assumed that with Edinson Cavani signing on for another year at Old Trafford, the club would focus their resources on other positions. While Jadon Sancho is expected to be the primary target to strengthen on the right wing, the use of Mason Greenwood, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford through the middle has been relatively unconvincing. Ings and Cavani would be able to carry the burden of being the main striker over the course of the next season.

The Telegraph reports that while Southampton might have to be pragmatic in regards to their finances, there is no guarantee that they won’t try to keep him for the next season, as any transfer fee they lose might be dwarfed by the financial harm caused if they were to fall out of the Premier League. Ings’ goals represents one of their best chances of staying afloat, with a reliable and experienced goalscorer hard to come by.

United are also reportedly still interested in bringing in a right-sided defender as well as a new central defensive partner for Harry Maguire, who could miss next week’s Europa League final.