Steve Howey has revealed that he told Newcastle to sign Danny Ings when Steve McClaren was manager.
We were linked with the Southampton striker in summer 2015 but the former Burnley man opted for a big move to Liverpool instead – and we opted for Anderlecht’s Aleksandar Mitrovic instead.
His time on Merseyside was blighted by injuries, with Ings making just 25 appearances in four years for the Reds.
The England international admitted to feeling “unhappy” during his time at Anfield, prompting Southampton to take a punt on him at the start of last season.
The move has paid dividends, with Ings hitting red hit form and working his way back into Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions set up, scoring a stunning 22 goals last season.
Here is what Howey said to Football Fancast:
“I think Newcastle were interested in Danny Ings a while ago and I think the fee was initially £10 million.
“Steve McClaren was the manager at the time and I said ‘just buy him’.
“I know he’s always had his injury problems but he is a goalscorer and he proved that last season.”
Still just 28, Ings would be a quality signing for us right now never mind back in 2015. It would have been a risk, mind.
Would he have been injury ravaged on Tyneside? Would things have worked out the same under McClaren? Would he have scored the goals to keep us up? Who knows.
£10m for Ings is a steal and Southampton have got themselves a bargain. Fair play to him for rebuilding his career and coming back from adversity to become one of the division’s most prolific strikers.
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