Football didn't come home from Russia but Danny Ings could be with the news that Saints are about to launch a bid to bring the Liverpool forward back to his home town.

Danny Ings was brought up in Southampton although he was on Saints books as a schoolboy he was released and subsequently played for Bournemouth and Burnley before joining Liverpool three years ago.

But injury soon curtailed his Anfield career and he has spent much of his three seasons at the club sidelined, managing only 25 appearances and 4 goals in all competitions.

Now with the arrival of several attacking players during the summer, it looks like Ings will be heading for the exit door and Saints are one of a number of English clubs interested.

But Liverpool are asking £20 million for a player that they only paid £6.5 million for in 2015 as the player was out of contract and the fee was decided by tribunal as he was under 24.

That is not the sort of price that Saints want to pay for a player who has barely played in 3 seasons, they are said to be looking at around half of that figure and when you take a direct comparison with Jay Rodríguez, that seems a fair price with J Rod leaving Saints last summer for £12 million.

That being the case you can understand Saints reluctance to take a gamble on Ings at a price that would perhaps smash the club's transfer record.

Spurs are also said to be interested, but there he would be no more than a back up player and that could swing the deal in Saints favour with another bonus being Southampton is his home town.

Photo: Action Images

underweststand added 03:37 - Jul 16 Here's the ultimate "ex"- who never was. Local lad who never made good - with Saints. People may remember his goal sprees with Bournemouth and Burnley although much of that wasn't at the highest level. A lot has happened since then, and his long injury lay-off and a few more birthdays may mean he 'll never regain that sort of form. As for the deal..£10 million sounds more appropriate given his long injury history, and let's face it - we've made worse deals (Ramirez, Osvaldo and Carrillo). If we don't buy one of the "foreign " talents being bandied around in the media, he may be the Plan B - and Liverpool will drop their fee demand - especially if there aren't too many other clubs interested by the end of the month. Q- Would I do the deal?..longer memories will recall the flambouyant Boyer / MacDougall partnership which had a spell with Saints in the late 1970's..and the thought of Ings and Charlie Austin in full flight might be fun - for a while - why not ?

1

BoondockSaint added 04:12 - Jul 16 4 goals in all competitions in 3 years?? 20 Million??? 5 Million for every goal?? Oh, yeah, there's going to be a bidding war for him alright! The Scouse paid 6.5 and didn't get their money's worth, ( 1.6 Million per goal!). He's not good enough for their second team and are now looking for someone dumb enough to pay that kind of money.
8

patred added 05:59 - Jul 16 Liverpool have accussed us of over-charging them on several deals, they will use this to exact some sort of revenge. We have not got the time in this window to play their silly games. We just move on to the next target. It's sad for Ings, unless he puts in a transfer request and refuses to move any where else, this move wont happen at £20m. He will just have to do what VvD did to get his move.

4

DPeps added 06:34 - Jul 16 Not sure need another striker with injury problems. Unless Ings and Austin can somehow coordinate their injuries...
6

derbydog added 08:18 - Jul 16 This doesn’t sound like a Saints move. We buy players who are thought to be on the up, and who will likely be increasing in value. It doesn’t always work out like that but I don’t see Ings fitting that strategy.
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SanMarco added 08:29 - Jul 16 I thought for a minute that even underweststand was going to reject this one! It might be a very generous Saints attempt to give Charlie some company in the treatment room - he must get very bored and lonely. Otherwise a sentence with 'touch' and 'bargepole' comes to my mind.
3

highfield49 added 09:42 - Jul 16 Dear Les, I was born and brought up in Southampton but circumstances caused to me to transfer in the early 90's. Unfortunately I now have to travel long distance to watch home matches now but I'm available to return to the city for about £500,000 and a subsidised season ticket. Ok, I'm close to 70 and have a few knee and hip problems picked up over many years playing football but I'm still better value than Danny Ings. I await your call.

3

Jesus_02 added 11:18 - Jul 16 Liverpool will not sell cheaply to us. While they don't consider us competition for signings anymore its still important to them that they try to keep us in our place. I can see him going to Cardiff or someone similar, maybe a Top Championship side for half a season. Not that fussed TBH, decent enough player but not really better than what we have IMO
1

Jesus_02 added 11:54 - Jul 16 The more I think about it Ings feels like a proper punt. Do we want him stuck on our wage bill? If we are going to make such out and out gambles I personally would prefer to gamble on someone young and hungry who has scored bags of goals. Jack Marriott seems far fetched but @ 23 and from L1 his wages will be low and we would probably still get something for him from a champ side if it doesn't work out. Maybe last season was a one off (27 goals) but he is a natural finisher so who knows what he could achieve given the chance. Its certainly more exiting than some of the players that we are linked with ... Falque 12 in 36... Petagna 4 goals and 5 assists?

2

KriSaint added 14:55 - Jul 16 I feel a little "cold" on this one because of his injury history. 10 mill. pounds offer from Saints sounds like a good offer from us. We should stand tough on this offer and see what happens. If he joins us, let´s back him max. up - AND hope we´ll buy a second striker too, a youngster maybe. COYR
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Fakaff added 15:03 - Jul 16 This is of course utter bullshit. Ings is not "coming back", and would not be welcome anyways. Why would he? Done nothing, always injured and couldn't score a goal if he was flown in with a helicopter.
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Scoot added 17:15 - Jul 16 Just read we're not interested on the bin dippers web page.
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schatfield added 22:29 - Jul 16 20M seems to be the new 6M from a few years ago....and with tv rights, etc. sounds about right. I dont think his fitness is in doubt anymore, he has been benched not injured because of Liverpools other 3 who were amazing, so cant argue with that. I would love to get Ings at Saints...with him and our other signings, I feel we could have a terrific season.
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