Aston Villa told to make Danny Ings decision as Arsenal transfer claim made

Former Aston Villa midfielder Paul Merson thinks Arsenal should make a summer transfer swoop for Danny Ings.

The 29-year-old has struggled for form this season after scoring just four times in 18 Premier League games following his £25million switch from Southampton to Villa in August.

He has scored just one goal in his last 10 games, having netted in Villa's 2-1 defeat at Brentford in January, but despite scoring 34 goals over the course of the previous two seasons, Ings is yet to find his best form at Villa Park.

Ings and Ollie Watkins have scored just nine Premier League goals combined so far this campaign, as both forwards have failed to hit the heights expected of them.

And Merson thinks Villa head coach Steven Gerrard could allow one of his strikers to leave the club in the summer.

"I definitely think Gerrard will be looking at his situation," Merson said on Sky Sports.

"Well, Ings for me is a goalscorer – Ings would go anywhere. If I was Arsenal, I’d take him all day long.

"I think he’s top-drawer, but he needs to be in the team and sometimes you go to other places and it doesn’t suit the way you play."