Hassenhuttl’s stance changes on Ings, as Tottenham step up interest
Ralph Hasentuttl is in no doubt Danny Ings will sign a new contract at Southampton, but Tottenham reportedly remain interested.
Spurs enquired about Ings in September, according to The Sun, but were fended off.
Jose Mourinho is believed to be a huge fan of the England striker, who has netted 27 Premier League goals since the start of last season.
The paper though claims they remain keen on the 28-year-old, who is understood to be looking for a return to Champions League football.
Ings had a taste of Europe’s top competition with Liverpool in 2017 and 2018, but is apparently craving another chance.
Saints boss Hasenhuttl, who said they may have to sell Ings earlier this week, has now changed his tune.
After Wednesday night’s FA Cup win over Shrewsbury, he was asked if the striker would sign a new contract, he replied: “Yes.
“If he wants Champions League football, he must score 10-15 more goals for us and we can go there. It’s not impossible, I don’t think.”
The report claims Spurs could come in for Ings in the summer, when he will have just 12 months left on his deal on the south coast.
The Telegraph reports that Southampton have offered the player a ‘historic’ new four-year deal. Ings would become the club’s most lucrative earner in their history.
Subscribe for free to TEAMtalk’s daily newsletter…
The striker though is stalling over the deal, with The Sun claiming a “particular sticking point is believed to be the size of the release clause in any deal”.
Ings has revitalised his career with Saints and after scoring 40 goals in 81 appearances he would like another crack at the big time.
The Winchester-born attacker is also back in the international fold and could be in line for a place at the delayed Euros this summer.
Hasenhuttl a big fan of Ings
Mourinho does have back-up for Harry Kane in the former of Carlos Vinicius. However, the 25-year-old is only on loan from Benfica until the summer, when Mourinho can send the player back.
Hasenhuttl is a big fan of the player and knows just what he brings to the club.
“This is not a big surprise when I say he is very important for our game, he knows this, we know this,” he said earlier this week. “We have won games without him – but for the long term, (when he is out for a long time) we really feel it and the quality he has is definitely outstanding and definitely important for us.
“It is (difficult) for us as a club to sub him or to use somebody who is at the same level as he is, so this is also why we really tried to extend his contract, this is not a surprise and not a secret.”
The post Hassenhuttl’s stance changes on Ings, as Tottenham step up interest appeared first on teamtalk.com.