(Football news) West Ham have reportedly agreed a deal for striker Danny Ings from Aston Villa as the Hammers are set to pay around £15m for the player. Ings will join the London club as he has already scored six Premier League goals in 18 games this season, and adds further competition to the West Ham front line alongside Gianluca Scamacca and Michail Antonio.
West Ham have been horrible in front of goal, scoring only 15 goals in 19 league games this season, with their form in front of goal the major factor behind their Premier League struggles. They currently sit 18th in the table, just a point ahead of Everton as they face Southampton on goal difference this weekend in a potential 6 pointer. Ings who recently turned 30, moved to Villa from Southampton for £25m in 2021, but has not hit the same form at Villa Park as he did at St Mary’s. Reports also suggest that West Ham may consider offers for striker Michail Antonio, if they sign two forwards in this month.
With Ings close to completing his transfer, a move for Lorient’s Terem Moffi has also not been ruled out. Lorient have told the Hammers that they are ready to accept an offer worth £25m but the player is undecided about the move. Michail Antonio is West Ham’s all-time record Premier League goalscorer, but this season his form has been questionable as he has only netted twice in the league this season. Ings has a tendency to blow hot and cold, given his age and injury record, perhaps it was the smart move to cash in before allowing his contract to run down.
Goals are the hardest to come by in the Premier League and Ings gives you those much needed goals. West Ham are also considering sacking manager David Moyes if they lose at home to Everton on Saturday. Moyes is under tremendous pressure with his side having picked up just one point from their past seven Premier League matches. Although Moyes has done a good job, much more was expected after West Ham spent £160m in the summer’s transfer window. They are 18th and their only goal difference is keeping them off the bottom of the Premier League table. In the past two seasons, West Ham have finished seventh and sixth under Moyes.
When asked about a potential departure earlier this week, Antonio said: “My agent deals with all that and if something happens, something happens. Right now, I’m at West Ham and I have to pay attention to that. If something changes, it changes. We’ve got a striker in and are maybe looking at other strikers because, right now, we’re not doing it”.
“Danny is a very good player in the first XI,” Unai Emery said after introducing Ings from the bench to rescue a point against Wolves in early January. “I’m really happy with him,” he added.
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