What Danny Ings are Sheffield United getting? | OneFootball

The majority of Sheffield United’s business so far this summer whether confirmed or rumoured has focused on unproven young talents. This is ultimately a good thing as the club needs to be sustainable and have hope for the future. But with the current league position and one of the more youthful sides in the division. The time has come to call for the here and now. The proven and in Danny Ings case perhaps the veteran.

Both Ben Mee and Danny Ings are reportedly training with Sheffield United. Whilst Mee is 36 next month, Ings has only just turned 33 in July. Hardly young, but equally this is the same club who signed Billy Sharp, 29, David McGoldrick, 30 and Leon Clarke, 31. Whilst you could wait a whole olympics cycle between Sharp and Ings collective ages in this comparison. Plus, by no means is does this mean the potential signing of Ings will work but in Sheffield United’s case strikers seem to age like fine wine.

So, looking back at his recent seasons what Danny Ings could Sheffield United be getting?

Championship Experience

Recent seasons are what we are looking for here but it would be wrong to discredit his previous Championship pedigree. In 87 games in the second tier, Ings managed 27 goals and 9 assists for Burnley after moving to the Clarets from AFC Bournemouth.

In the season that Burnley were promoted (2013-2014) Ings scooped PFA Fans Player of the Year, a place in the PFA Team of the Year. As well as being named the Football League Championship player of the year. Partly down to the 21 Championship goals he scored that season in 40 league appearances.

Liverpool Nightmare

A dream move for anyone. Signing for Liverpool from Burnley didn’t go to plan for Ings. He managed a goal contribution every five games. But 25 appearances in three season wasn’t perhaps what he would have had in mind.

Ings unfortunate time at Liverpool was as a result of some very difficult injuries. According to Transfermarkt a Cruciate ligament tear in his first season kept him out for 211 days missing 54 games. The following season, knee surgery kept Ings out for 289 days as he missed 41 games for the Reds.

His final season on Merseyside, saw him make 14 appearances in all competitions, a better run in the side saw him loaned to Southampton for 2018-2019.

Prime Danny Ings?

If his time at Burnley was his breakthrough as a player. His time on the South Coast with the Saints an initial loan made permanent was a second wind that turned into a prime. 100 appearances in total, Ings managed 46 goals and 10 assists.

Much like Sheffield United, Danny Ings best Premier League season came in 2019-2020. He scored 22 Premier League goals in 38 Premier League games. Being beaten to the golden boot by Jamie Vardy who scored 23.

Whilst, he had his injuries on the South Coast, particularly in his first season. The 2019-2020 season was injury free and he only missed five matches the following season. It seemed for the most part the move to the Saints had unlocked his shooting boots and kept the injuries at bay.

Back in Claret and Blue

The last five seasons are where perhaps reservations may lie. At least in his ability to score in the Premier League. A return to Claret and Blue first with Aston Villa and then West Ham seems to have slowed down his goalscoring.

A great first season at Villa Park where he managed seven goals and six assists in 30 Premier League games. Then six goals in 18 the season after as Ollie Watkins entered the frame at Villa seemed to call an end to any pushes for Premier League golden boots.

Ings move to East London in 2022-2023 hasn’t really led to much output. The January 2023 deal saw Ings produce three goals and 2 assists including a goal in the UEFA Conference League as the Hammers won the competition.

In the subsequent two seasons, he has made 47 appearances scoring just two goals and two assists. Perhaps proving the time is right for a move to the second tier to get him back amongst the goals.

Takeaways

What Danny Ings could Sheffield United be getting? By the looks of it a player who needs a good run in a side in the Championship. A player whose goals have dried up in the top flight for a West Ham United team that seem to have struggled for a target man to rely on for a long time. Bar the perpetually underrated Michail Antonio.

It seems as well that Ings has for the most part moved past his issues with his ligaments and his knee that halted his time at Liverpool. With him seeming more available in the latter stages of his career. Although, brief knee and hamstring issues have popped up at times in the last five years.

Ultimately, Ings is a goalscorer and if the Blades can get a tune out of him he could make a real difference. If the wages are right he could have the impact of other senior forwards have had at Bramall Lane. He also fills the third striker slot that Kieffer Moore vacated could provide good advice for Campbell and Cannon. Whilst, when the team has only scored one Championship goal so far. The Blades can’t be too picky. Plus, those previous Blades forwards have proven 33 is the new 26.