We’re so used to seeing players move from Southampton FC to Liverpool FC in the past half-decade that the narrative has now morphed into a well known punchline within the football world. So when the transfer actually happens going the opposite way, from Liverpool to Southampton, it’s indeed a massive change of pace, and certainly news-worthy.
Monday brought the start of training camp for Saints, and with it the official permanent transfer of 26-year-old striker Danny Ings. He initially made a return to his hometown last summer, coming over on loan from Anfield.
He netted eight times last season, and parlayed that production into a new deal that will keep him at the south coast club until 2022. Liverpool will receive a sum of £20 million for sending Danny Ings to the St. Mary’s on a permanent move.
“It feels good. Obviously, being here for a season already, I felt like it was very up and down for me personally, with a few niggles and small injuries, and that was off the back of not having a strong pre-season going into the season,” reads a statement attributed to Ings on the club’s official website.
“Now I’ve signed permanently, I feel great. I’ve looked after myself over the summer and I’m just raring to go for the new season. Personally, it’s a big season for me. I feel like it’s my most exciting really.”
“The last few years have been very up and down for me, but now I’ve looked after myself over this summer and I’m really looking forward to it and hopefully great things can come from it.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
You can follow Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com on Twitter here and his cat on Instagram at this link.