Everton have to buy Danny Ings in January to land Aston Villa man who can change their season
Everton “have to” make a permanent offer to bring Aston Villa striker Danny Ings to Goodison Park in the January transfer window, according to Dean Jones.
The Toffees have struggled in front of goal this season, netting just 14 goals for their opening 18 Premier League games, and their top goalscorer Anthony Gordon having found the back of the net just three times in the league.
Ings, 30, has fallen beneath Ollie Watkins in the pecking order at Villa Park despite his clinical goalscoring form, which saw him net a crucial equaliser for Unai Emery’s side in their most recent Premier League outing against Wolves.
The Daily Mail reported on 4 January that Everton had seen a bid to snap up Ings on loan rejected by the West Midlands club.
Former Eurosport journalist Jones believes that the Villa forward is the type of signing who could “change” the Toffees’ season, but admitted Frank Lampard would have to cough up a transfer fee.
He told GiveMeSport: “Well, they have to. If they’re going to have any chance of getting Ings, then it’s going to have to be a permanent deal because it’s absolutely not in Aston Villa’s interest at all to loan him out.
“So, it’s no surprise to see Everton linked here, it’s difficult to find players that can come in and change your season, and I think that Ings can do that.”
All in
Ings is the type of player could completely revitalise Everton’s season in front of goal, and Farhad Moshiri should do all he can to get the move over the line.
The Villa striker is a proven Premier League striker who works hard, is clinical, and can be a leader on the pitch. There is nothing not to like about a potential move for the attacker, but the transfer fee could prove a stumbling block.
With Aston Villa already having sent Cameron Archer out on loan to the Championship, it leaves them with just two strikers in their first-team squad, so the possible sanctioning of an Ings exit would depend on incomings at Villa Park.
If Emery’s side manages to bring a couple of attacking reinforcements through the door in January, they might be willing to listen to offers for Ings. The 30-year-old could prove himself the perfect antidote to all the Toffees’ goalscoring problems.