Tottenham strike target warned that move could stagnate career (original) (raw)

Kevin Campbell has advised Southampton’s Danny Ings that the grass is not always greener and a move to a bigger club could backfire.

Ings, 28, has been rumoured to leave St Mary’s this summer, with a few Premier League clubs linked. Manchester City are thought to be interested as they look for Sergio Aguero’s replacement. But links to Tottenham seem to be the strongest, with doubts over the future of Spurs superstar Harry Kane. It is likely that other clubs will also join his list of suitors if he does push for a move.

He has endured an injury-plagued campaign this term and bagged nine goals. But last season showed that, when fit, he is as good as most around.

The England man scored 22 top-flight goals in 2019-2020 and 25 in all competitions. He does have experience of playing for one of the ‘big six’ clubs, with a short stint at Liverpool.

But injury restricted him to just 25 outings and he was on his way to the south coast in 2018.

There is no question that the former Burnley man is now a better player. But former striker Kevin Phillips questioned why he would he would move to Spurs last month.

“Whenever I get asked that question, I always put myself in Danny’s shoes,” he told Football Fan Cast. “Why would I want to go to Tottenham to sit on the bench and play cup games? It’s as simple as that.”

And now former Everton and Arsenal hitman Kevin Campbell has echoed those thoughts.

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“Good player and he knows the Premier League. He’s done his stint at a big club,” he told Sky Sports. “He went to Liverpool and it didn’t quite work out. He got injured and struggled a little bit.

“I think you could go to a big club if you can be guaranteed 25-30 games a season. But I would much rather play week in and week out.

“You then get a certain level of know-how and smartness. You can use all your skills. If you are out of the team sometimes you don’t get going.”

Big decisions for Ings and club this summer

Ings will be out of contract at the end of next season. Saints will not want to risk losing him for nothing and so there must be dialogue thus summer about his future.

It was reported in March that he does not want to join Spurs just to sit on the bench. And it may be a similar scenario as the Etihad, especially if Pep Guardiola brings in a big-name star.