Aston Villa: £25m star 'would prefer to stay' at Villa Park

Aston Villa striker Danny Ings would prefer to remain at Villa Park this summer, believes transfer insider Dean Jones.

While the 30-year-old only joined Villa from Southampton in a £25m deal last year, he has been linked with a move away from the Midlands club.

Towards the end of May, Football Insider reported that Villa would listen to offers for Ings this transfer window.

The same outlet also claimed that Brighton were interested in signing the Englishman, and they may very well find themselves in need of a new striker.

According to the MailOnline, the Seagulls recently received a £15m offer from Serie A side Salernitana for Neal Maupay.

Maupay has less than a year remaining on his Brighton contract, so the Premier League outfit could be forced to cash in on him this summer and sign a No.9 like Ings to replace him at the Amex.

While there is uncertainty surrounding Ings’ future, Jones believes the England international wants to stay at Villa Park.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the journalist said: “I’d say there’s still some uncertainty over Danny Ings’ future. Unless a really tempting offer comes in for him, I think he would prefer to remain part of this project and prove that he’s capable of living up to the hype.”

At this moment in time, it does not look like they will. If Steven Gerrard signs a new centre-forward this summer, then it is more than possible. However, the Villa manager does not seem to be seriously targeting anyone in that position right now.

It means Ings is likely to remain at Villa Park, and he will be hoping to have a better season than his last one.

The 2021/22 campaign was not the England international’s best. He scored just seven goals for Gerrard’s side and had to play second fiddle to Ollie