Newcastle United are closing in on the signing of Liverpool striker Danny Ings on a £15million loan-to-buy deal, according to the Sun.
The newspaper claim the north-east giants’ manager Rafael Benitez is working on a deal to land the former Burnley player in addition to West Brom striker Salomon Rondon for £17million.
The Sun report Newcastle are preparing an offer for Ings of a season-long loan followed by a guaranteed payment of £15million to sign him permanently if they secure Premier League survival at the end of the campaign.
Good move for Newcastle?
Toon fans would think all their Christmases had come at once if their club secured two Premier League centre-forward signings by the transfer cut-off next Thursday. It appears the Rondon deal is in the bag after Saturday’s breakthrough, and Benitez is hoping for a double coup by winning the race for Ings. Certainly, the Liverpool striker would be an excellent capture. His career has been cruelly decimated by injury in the last few years and attempts to force his way back into the first team have been blocked by the holy trinity of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane. But the former Burnley man is still only 26, an England international and a striker proven in the Premier League. He could score 15-plus goals next season if he gets a regular run of games.
This Is Futbol rating 8/10
Likely to happen?
Newcastle face plenty of rival interest for the Liverpool front man, with half the Premier League keen to sign him. Much will depend upon the terms of the deal Benitez’s side offer and the intentions of the player himself. It might need Rafa to sweet-talk him to get the deal done.
This Is Futbol rating 6/10