Manchester United have been told that they ‘missed a trick’ on not signing Danny Ings this summer and that the former Liverpool star would be an upgrade on Anthony Martial, who only recently recovered from a long-term knee problem.
Martial started a Premier League game for Manchester United for the first time since March this year against Southampton, having been ruled out for much of pre-season.
Danny Ings, who left Southampton this summer, joined Aston Villa and has enjoyed a stellar start to his career at the Birmingham club, scoring in both of his appearances so far.
Now, talkSPORT pundit Alex Crook has suggested that Manchester United should have tried to sign Ings in the window, arguing that the England international would improve the side more than Martial.
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“I would flip that around and say have Manchester United missed a trick when it comes to Danny Ings? 30m pounds, someone who has scored goals in the Premier League, scored a wonderful goal for Aston Villa last night,” he said on talkSPORT.
“Are you telling me that Danny Ings isn’t an upgrade on Antony Martial? And he wanted to go to Manchester City or Manchester United, that was his preferred destination.
“Yes I know he’s had injury problems, he’s probably coming into the twilight of his career but you don’t get a lot for £30m these days and that would have been an easy deal to be done.
“I just wonder if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s blind faith in Antony Martial could be his undoing this season.”
Something worth keeping in mind, however, is that Martial was Manchester United’s Player of the Year in Solskjaer’s first season, which is bound to have some bearing in any decisions over his future. The following season (2020/21), the France international struggled for form and with injured but the Norwegian boss will be hoping to reignite the 25-year-old this year.
