Manchester City should have signed Ings as Kane alternative

The recently concluded transfer window was hectic and perhaps chaotic. Despite the covid-19 induced financial mess across Europe, many clubs still shelled out plenty of money to acquire player services.

It was a transfer window that saw the breaking of the British transfer record. 

Of all the teams busy in the transfer window, Manchester City struck the first blow with the signing of Jack Grealish. The £100 million signing came as a surprise to many as City under Guardiola has never ventured to sign players with amounts in the hundred million regions. 

Perhaps what jarred many was the pursuit of Harry Kane that would have gulped around £150 million.

Ings was an option after Kane’s failed pursuit 

Pep is famed for playing the false nine, which was the challenge that Aguero faced. Gabriel Jesus has had to change positions on the pitch to make Guardiola’sng XI.

With Daniel Levy digging in over Harry Kane, Tom Barclay, a journalist, was surprised that City did not move for Danny Ings.

It was as if Pep was not interested in a striker because the pursuit of Kane was not with determination. City also followed the Kane pursuit with a half-hearted interest in Cristiano Ronaldo. Ings was, however, available for a fraction of what Kane would have cost. The player had made it clear he wanted to leave and preferred a Champions League team. The odds highly favoured City to land the Englishman who had a year left on his Southampton contract.

Other clubs interested in Ings

The former Liverpool and Southampton striker scored 41 goals in 91 appearances in three years of his stay with the Saints. His impressive record at a side that doesn’t create much was supposed to be something that would appeal to the elite clubs.

Despite the loss of Aguero and the failure to land Kane, City didn’t actively pursue Ings.

According to The Telegraph, a few clubs showed interest in signing the English forward. Top of the bill was Tottenham gaffer Nuno Espirito Santo who wanted to pair him with Harry Kane. 

Ings ended up at Aston Villa for a cut-price of £25 million.

Barclay’s Surprise

Barclay told GIVEMESPORT that given Ings quality that he’s surprised he ended up at Aston Villa. According to him, it’s kind of strange that City passed over the chance to sign the player. He also said that Ings would have fared well at City even if he wasn’t a regularr.

So far, City are not feeling the impact of not signing a striker as the team scored 23 goals in six matches with 14 different scorers.