Manchester United appears to be confident of signing Burnley striker Danny Ings at the end of the season ahead of Liverpool with the deciding factor being Champions League football, and while Liverpool mathematically are still in the running to qualify it does appear to be a bit of a long shot.
Manager Louis van Gaal seems to have turned things around at Old Trafford despite a poor start to the season while Brendan Rodgers team were also playing well before they came up against Arsenal and Manchester United recently.
Both team’s will be looking for a striker this summer, with United not taking up their option on Radamel Falcao, while also looking for a buyer for Robin van Persie who despite having his worst year since arriving at Old Trafford still managed to score ten goals, which is one more than Ings has managed all season at Burnley.
As for Liverpool, their manager Brendan Rodgers will be looking to get rid of Mario Balotelli after his £16 million gamble only produced one Premiership goal from the 24-year-old, while at the same time selling Fabio Borini who tries hard but fails to deliver.
Raheem Sterling appears to be looking for an exit as well, and if we were running things at the club we would help him pack if anyone was prepared to fork out £50 million for the 20-year-old.
Arsenal has been mentioned as a possible destination with the Gunners possibly willing to make Theo Walcott a part of the deal.
All this movement would of course free up space for Ings, who is out of contract at Turf Moor this summer, yet we do not feel either of the two Premiership clubs would be suitable for the former Bournemouth player, who in our opinion would be much happier at a mid-table Premiership side that would appreciate him more such as West Ham or Aston Villa or even Newcastle for that matter.
The 23-year-old just about said this as well recently when telling the Independent that come May 24th he will sit down with his agent and figure out his next move saying: “One thing I don’t want to do is go somewhere and, not rot, but all of a sudden disappear for a while. [Somewhere] you don’t really get a look-in. I always back myself and no matter what step I take next I want to do well.
“One thing I do want next year no matter where I am – and I don’t know where that is going to be – is to work with a manager who is going to coach me and really develop me as a player. That’s all you can ask for, to learn and be the best you can be. It is important that you do get football. A lot of other things can suck you in when it comes to moves and I am sure that it has happened in the past to people. My main aim next year is, wherever I am, to play football and to enjoy it and develop.
“You don’t want to have a good couple of years, come through the Championship, have a good first year in the Premier League and then not play in the Premier League for another year or so because that is a backward step.
No matter what contract anyone is on it is important that you are playing football. It is a short career and you have to earn a living but at the same time playing football is the best way to get better contracts anyway. That’s the way I look at things.”
