Ben Guest
Manchester City are reportedly interested in Southampton striker Danny Ings as an alternative to Erling Haaland.
The Premier League champions-elect are one of a number of top European sides said to be in the market for a striker this summer, with Haaland the name on everyone’s lips following his quite ridiculous goalscoring exploits for Borussia Dortmund.
The Norwegian smashed the record to become the quickest to score 20 Champions League goals earlier this season, reaching the landmark in just 14 games in Europe’s elite competition, his tally for Dortmund standing at 49 goals in 49 games.
Haaland has a €75 million release clause in his deal which becomes active in 2022, with suggestions being that Dortmund will sanction a sale this summer in order to command a higher price, with both Manchester clubs, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona all having been linked.
Reports in Spain have suggested that Real Madrid are the front-runners, while there have been reports that Roman Abramovich is willing to do whatever it takes in order to land the 20-year-old, Haaland’s future set to be one of the biggest transfer stories of the summer.
Manchester City are thought to be in the market for a long-term replacement for club legend and record goalscorer, Sergio Aguero, the Argentine out of contract this summer and expected to leave.
According to Sky Sports, however, the Premier League leaders have also identified Danny Ings as an alternative option to Haaland, the former Liverpool forward having established himself as a fine goalscorer following his move to Southampton in 2019.
While Haaland could be set to cost £100 million, 28-year-old Ings will be a much cheaper and more attainable option, the England international approaching the final year of his deal at St Marys and said to be keen on moving to a bigger club, his time at Liverpool ruined by a succession of injuries.
Ings has struggled with a few injuries this campaign which has restricted him to just eight top-flight goals, though he demonstrated his goalscoring ability as he finished joint-second behind Jamie Vardy with 22 goals in last season’s race for the golden boot.
The report also adds that City are also tracking Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder, Denis Zakaria.
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