“Will already be a few clubs looking” – Journalist drops claim on Aston Villa ace's "situation"

Journalist Dean Jones believes ‘there will already be a few clubs’ looking at Danny Ings’ situation at Aston Villa and contemplating making a move for the striker.

Ings only arrived at Villa Park last summer under former manager Dean Smith, but his lack of regular game time has already raised doubts over his long-term future at the club.

The Midlands outfit shelled out £25 million to bring the former Southampton forward in following Jack Grealish’s exit, with Smith describing him as an ‘outstanding’ player who has ‘scored goals wherever he has played’.

And Ings lived up to that billing in the opening weeks of the season, bagging three goals and providing two assists in his first eight Premier League appearances for his new side.

However, following Smith’s dismissal halfway through November, the 29-year-old’s productivity has slowed down to an alarming level.

Since Steven Gerrard’s arrival as Villa’s new boss, Ings has only featured from the off on four occasions, finding the back of the net just once and failing to set up any further strikes.

The ex-Rangers tactician has favoured Ollie Watkins upfront in his preferred 4-3-3 formation, leaving Ings to watch on from the substitutes bench for the majority of his short tenure.

After reviving his career on the south coast by notching 56 goal contributions in 100 outings for the Saints, Ings is unlikely to be short of potential suitors should Villa decide to cash in this summer.

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And Jones reckons his current bit-part role under the tutelage of Gerrard will have already sparked the interest of a handful of clubs who sense the opportunity to snap up a proven goalscorer.

He told GiveMeSport: “Yeah, I think