Journo: Gerrard would spring Villa 'surprise' by sanctioning move for 'special' £120k-p/w star

Pete O’Rourke has said that it would be a shock if Danny Ings left Aston Villa this summer amid reported interest from Brighton and Hove Albion. 

Villa paid a reported £25m to land the striker from Southampton during last summer’s transfer window, making him the fifth-biggest signing in their history.

The Englishman, who has been dubbed a ‘special’ player by Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson, signed a three-year contract worth £120,000 per week, the highest salary on the club’s books.

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After 23 appearances for Villa, Ings has only managed to score five goals, although he has also provided five assists.

Nonetheless, he is on course to finish on his lowest goal tally in the top flight since the 2018/19 season, and Football Insider reported earlier in March that Brighton were hopeful of capturing him in a few months’ time.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke admitted that he would be somewhat stunned if Steven Gerrard were to sanction Ings’ exit from Villa so quickly.

The journalist said: “It would come as a surprise because Danny Ings arrived last year as a real secret deal. Nobody saw it coming.”

Would it really be all that much of a surprise if Ings were to be jettisoned after only a year at Villa Park? There are other strikers in the equation here.

According to The Athletic’s Gregg Evans, Gerrard has his eye on Luis Suarez, who is likely to be available on a free transfer following the expiry of his Atletico Madrid contract in the summer.

There is also 19-year-old Cameron Archer, who has underlined his potential this season with four goals in the Carabao Cup for Villa and five in the Championship during his loan spell at