Hasenhuttl hints that Saints may be forced to sell Ings

Ralph Hasenhuttl has suggested that Southampton may have to sell Danny Ings this summer if the right offer comes in for him.

Ings initially joined the Saints on loan for the 2018/19 campaign, but he joined permanently the season after. This put to an end an injury disrupted three years at Liverpool.

The forward scored eight times in 25 games during his first season, but his form hit new heights in his second year.

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He scored 22 Premier League goals last season as he finished level in second place with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the race for the league’s Golden Boot. Jamie Vardy scored one more than both strikers to win the award.

Ings has continued this form into the 2020/21 campaign, with him scoring seven from his 13 league outings.

The 28-year-old’s contract expires at the end of next season. Southampton are hoping to negotiate a new deal for their top scorer. Ings currently earns around £75,000 p/w.

But in quotes cited by the Daily Mail, Hasenhuttel admitted that the club may struggle to agree on a new deal for Ings, which could see him leave this summer:

“We are in a situation where every club is struggling with finances.

“We are trying to keep the club in a healthy way and it is not only about Ingsy, there are others who also want to extend their contract.

“If it is not what we expect to pay in the future, then we have to look for somebody else who is cheaper, but we know it always should be win-win for both.

“If they want to make the next step in the summer to a bigger club and there is an offer fitting to the player, then we can always negotiate.”