Manchester City are said to have made ‘enquiries’ into the availability of Danny Ings as the Premier League champions consider alternatives to Harry Kane.

Ings has entered the final year of his contract at Southampton and has rejected the opportunity to sign a new deal, with City having identified the 28-year-old as a potential target as the club seek additions at centre-forward.

City have made the signing of Harry Kane a priority and submitted an offer for the forward earlier this summer, after the England captain informed Tottenham of his desire to leave the club in search of silverware.

However, Kane has three years remaining on his current contract and Spurs are under no pressure to sell the 27-year-old, with Pep Guardiola having admitted recently that City ‘cannot afford’ to buy a new striker at the prices being quoted.

Ings has now emerged as a potentially cheaper alternative and Football Insider are reporting that contact has been made as City seek a forward who can ‘immediately’ slot into the side.

Guardiola is an admirer of the England international’s penalty-box prowess, with Ings having scored 41 league goals in 91 appearances since signing for Southampton from Liverpool on an initial loan deal in 2018.

City currently have just Gabriel Jesus as a recognised senior centre-forward option, following Sergio Aguero’s departure for Barcelona on a free transfer, with the likes of Ferran Torres, Phil Foden and Kevin de Bruyne all having been asked to operate through the middle on occasion.

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