After narrowly missing out on promotion late last season, Championship outfit Leeds United are now front-runners to achieve that feat this season but three losses in their last four league outings, all coming away from home, have pushed them down the points table.
Thomas Christiansen has worked well with the squad at his disposal at the Elland Road and though he does not have the strongest options to choose from, is nurturing a team that can even fight for the title. There are a few positions the manager wants to improve on and one player that might help them in their pursuit is Liverpool star Danny Ings.
The English international has had a torrid time in his stint at Anfield, picking up two major injuries that ended his seasons prematurely. He is yet to make an impact under the current manager Jurgen Klopp but he is not expected to be sold anytime soon, especially with Klopp not ready to let him go before giving him ample chances.
A target man with immaculate energy and a smart eye for goal, Ings is a product of the academy at Bournemouth but only made a name for himself with a spectacular season at Turf Moor in the Championship in 2015. He helped the Clarets to the top flight before moving on to Liverpool on a tribunal fee but has since made just six league appearances for the Reds, picking up two goals in that time.
Reports claim that Leeds United are interested in signing him on a permanent basis if possible but it will not be easy for them to meet Liverpool’s valuation or persuade them to let Ings go forever. But is he an option for the second half of the campaign?
In a 4-2-3-1 system that has worked well for Christiansen, the Whites have used Pierre-Michel Lasogga as the first choice striker this season. With four goals and three assists already, he has been effective in front of goal but Leeds do not have a refined option to replace him.
Kemar Roofe, who has three goals and an assist in six starts this season, has been effective in Lasogga’s absence but he has been more effective on the wing on the right flank and the manager is in search of a player who can walk into the first team to replace Lasogga.
Christiansen is scouting for a number of names from all around Europe but Ings and his previous experience in the Championship might just be what he is looking for. His lack of match fitness might be an issue but not for too long, thanks to the player’s commitment to get back on to the field as soon as possible.
Jurgen Klopp will yet look to keep Ings till the end of the season and integrate him into the squad later in the campaign when the fixtures come in thick and fast but if he decides that the striker needs regular game time to improve and meet his standards, a move to the Elland Road might just be a blessing.
Can Danny Ings help yet another club to promotion?
