3 Reasons Why A Move For This English Talent Makes More Sense Than Liverpool’s Recent Striking Acquisitions

According to recent reports, English striker Danny Ings will join Liverpool at the end of the season after the Reds reportedly have won the race for his signature.

It is believed that Ings who is set to be out of contract at Burnley at the end of this season; has opted to move to Anfield on a Bosman. With the likes of Real Sociedad from Spain, Germany’s Schalke and Dutch side Ajax all keeping tabs on the young striker’s contract situation; Liverpool have reportedly won the race for his signature ahead of the aforementioned and bitter rivals Manchester United.

The Championship-destined Clarets of Sean Dyche are due a compensation of £3million to £5million for Ings, because the former Bournemouth starlet is just 22 years of age. Here is why signing relegation-bound Burnley’s young English striker makes more sense than it seems to for Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers:

1. Fits their Profile

Its no hidden fact that Liverpool owners FSG believe in recruiting young English talent as their primary targets. Ings is English, he’s 22 and a proven Premier League goalscorer; ticking all the boxes FSG have in mind for their ideal transfer target.

Brendan Rodgers’ too wouldrelish the prospect of a striker who doesn’t only score goals but creates chances too. All of that while putting in tireless shifts, leading the line. Though not an out-and-out number 9; Brendan Rodgers’ attempts at playing Raheem Sterling and Philipe Coutinho as the number 9 this season has shown how much the Northern Irishman values movement and fluidity in his strikers.

The Reds deviated from their “profile” last summer when bringing in Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert; Ings, on the other hand, would be a risk-free acquisition with the potential of becoming a bargain. His wages wouldn’t be astronomical, either. Both on and off the pitch, he is a signing that makes sense.

Click on the next button to continue

2. More than just a Striker

Danny Ings seems to be a real all-rounder. His 10 goals this season – Four right footed , Three left footed and other Three headers. Ings is someone who can score goals in any way and those predatory instincts are something Liverpool have missed sorely throughout the season in the absence of Sturridge, the failures of the rest and the departure of Suarez.

It’s easy to mistake Ings to be an old school English number 9 but he isn’t. He can create, too. He accounts for 10% of chances Burnley have made this season, quite a decent effort for someone primarily tasked with scoring goals.

However all talk about personalities and philosophies may stray from the crux of the matter and that is can he put the ball in the net? In Short, yes. Since the beginning of last season Ings has netted 35 goals at a little under a strike every alternate game. That’s plenty good enough and better than any of his would-be competition at Anfield has fared this season. Ings’ movement as a striker and his link-up with Kieran Trippier showed how dangerous he can be if provided with a good service; which he will have plenty of with the likes of Coutinho playing in behind him.

Click on the next button to continue

3. The Reds need a Striker and they need him now

Liverpool need goals and they need them soon. For goals, they need strikers and strikers don’t come cheap. £16million bought them almost nothing  the last time they set out a net in striking waters. Rodgers can’t risk another £20million plus flop so a cheaper, home-grown and more reliable option would be much preferred. And in steps, Danny Ings from Burnley. Technically a Bosman who can be Rodgers’ for as little as £5 million.

Daniel Sturridge aside, Liverpool haven’t got a great deal of quality upfront. Raheem Sterling and Steven Gerrard are the Reds’ highest scorers with five, thus speaking volumes of the need of a striker at Merseyside. Danny Ings has 10 already in his first full season in the top flight.

There’s no doubting that on his return Sturridge is Liverpool’s main man; his performances over the last 18 months have earned him that accolade, but he needs help. Even when fit he needs someone to help share the load and create space for him to exploit. The lack of forward options is even more exposed when he’s not fit. When Sturridge does return fit, Ings would be a perfect foil for Sturridge or another alternative option late in the game.

A proven Premier League striker Ings scored against Manchester United and Everton. More crucially, perhaps, he notches routinely against sides struggling in the bottom half, including Hull, QPR and Newcastle. How Rodgers would have wanted a striker who could do that at the Hawthorns, against West Brom, and at the KC Stadium this season. And although Ings has no experience in Europe, he would offer a further option in the Europa League, too. A player you can rely upon in all competitions will allow for rotation.

Danny Ings to Liverpool, perhaps, makes more sense than all of Liverpool’s striking acquisition in the last 2 seasons.