A much shorter transfer window than last summer is made more complicated by Euro 2020.
An international tournament right in the middle of the summer tends to make it trickier to sign players, for instance, when it comes to Jadon Sancho, United’s window is smaller.
United can either sign Sancho before the tournament, a window of just 11 days now, or after England’s exit – and no doubt after the player himself has had a holiday.
The later it drags on, the more difficult a deal becomes, as United discovered last summer.
One player it has become a little more straightforward to sign, is Danny Ings. The Telegraph reported last month United have enquired after the striker.
A simpler deal to pull off
Unlike a long winded pursuit of Harry Kane, a move for Ings is easier because he was unfortunate to miss out on the Euro 2020 squad.
Had the tournament taken place last year, Ings would have been in after scoring 22 league goals. But he was not selected by Gareth Southgate for his 33-man shortlist.
This was despite Ings netting 12 league goals for a struggling Southampton side this year. That’s more league goals than Marcus Rashford (11), Edinson Cavani (10), Mason Greenwood (7), and Anthony Martial (4) all scored for United this past season.
Ings has scored 34 Premier League goals in the past two seasons. That is just seven fewer than Harry Kane, who could cost an extra £100 million.
Nobody is arguing Ings is better than Kane, but the Saints striker could be an interesting part of the puzzle alongside Jadon Sancho, a defensive midfielder, and a centre-back.
Pursuing Kane would prevent United from doing all of these other deals, or most of them, because the budget would be used up on signing him.
What is Danny Ings’ contract situation?
Clubs interested in signing Danny Ings are helped by his contract situation.
Ings’ deal at Southampton expires in June 2022, incentivising his club’s desire to cash in.
This also means United could get away with signing him for a quite reasonable fee, possibly in the £20 million range, or even less.
Ings would be a transitional signing for United, at 28. He could sign a three-year deal, giving United cover for when Edinson Cavani’s deal expires next summer, while still allowing big money to spend on a first choice option in 2022.
At the moment United’s priorities dictate other positions are more important, but there is still some room to add a striker if it makes sense. In conjunction with other deals, Ings can work, also taking pressure off Cavani to play every game.
There is no risk of Ings’ price being inflated this summer by the Euros now he has been omitted, and when it comes to negotiations, United would have little excuse for leaving this one until deadline day.
- How Ruben Amorim’s mis-profiling of Bruno Fernandes is costing Man Utd financially in 2026
- Ruben Amorim has picked a battle at AC Milan that he already lost at Man Utd, he must change
- Lisandro Martinez could play in different position for Argentina in opening game
- Man United Amazon documentary: Eight-figure ‘sweetheart’ deal, Carrick clause, Ineos veto
- Ruben Amorim plans to use two formations at AC Milan after Man Utd 3-4-3 controversy
- Man Utd set to lose ‘highly-rated’ youngster this summer, Barcelona among clubs chasing his signature
- Jose Mourinho received ‘negative reports’ on Alvaro Carreras, now ex-Man Utd star faces challenge
- ‘Here we go’… Fabrizio Romano shares details of €55m ‘done deal’ that impacts Marcus Rashford
- Man Utd will get a new world-class player back from the World Cup, he’s in the form of his life
- Amad Diallo outshone Man United’s £112m transfer target with World Cup masterclass
- Man Utd are in for the wrong Brighton midfielder, Sweden vs Tunisia showed Baleba’s teammate is elite
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
