Football fans were left stunned last night when Aston Villa announced the surprising signing of Southampton forward Danny Ings.
The reported fee for the Englishman is said to be between £25-30 million with the Midlanders seemingly planning ahead as the departure of Jack Grealish edges closer and closer to becoming reality.
Still, instead of dwelling on the soon-to-be past, Villa have opted to look ahead to the future with a shocking move that truly did come out of nowhere.
AVFC channel their inner Randy Orton
Ings, when fit, is often regarded as one of the most efficient goalscorers in the Premier League, but nobody was really picking up on the idea that he could be leaving the south coast this summer.
The plan appeared to be for him to return as part of the Saints’ first-team squad for the first few weeks of the season, potentially putting himself in the shop window for a late Tottenham move before the transfer window closes on August 31.
Instead, Dean Smith decided to swoop in and make the kind of signing that sends a very clear statement to the rest of the division: Villa mean business.
In response to this move we saw all kinds of entertaining and somewhat baffled responses on social media.
There’s bewilderment, joy from the Villa Park faithful, envy from the rivals and some who weirdly want to keep throwing shots at Jack Grealish.
Whatever the case may be this felt like a genuine throwback transfer and that, in our book, can only be a good thing in this era of rumours and speculation. The transfer market is definitely enjoyable but from time to time, it’s nice to be caught off guard.
Ings will hope to feature in the starting XI when Aston Villa get their Premier League campaign underway on August 14 with a trip to Vicarage Road to face Watford.
Featured image credit: Getty
