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Whether Danny Ings’ dream move to Liverpool works out quite the way he hopes is anybody’s guess, but right now, the 22-year-old isn’t interested in the way things might go wrong. He may be busy representing England at the U21 Euros, and he may still technically be a Burnley player for ten more days, but his focus is already on Anfield and next season.
"Words cant describe it, this move I’ve got for myself," Ings told reporters who asked him about his impending Liverpool move following England’s 1-0 victory over Sweden on Sunday. "I’ve worked my way up from the bottom, so it’s even more special for me. It’s a challenge I’m looking forward to. I never get complacent with anything, and now I’ve got the move I’ll work even harder to get into that team."
Following an injury to Saido Berahino, there had been some expectation that Ings would see major minutes at the U21 European Championships, but so far he has been limited to a pair of cameos off the bench with Gareth Southgate choosing to start off with only one striker up top. And with Harry Kane available for selection, it’s hardly been shocking that one striker hasn’t yet been Ings.
England did look better following his introduction on Sunday, though, and even if Ings was caught offside on a handful of occasions, his movement and workrate helped England to find their late breakthrough. Ings began his career in League Two with Bournemouth and has since worked his way up through the ranks, competing in all four of England’s top divisions and spending a loan spell with Dorchester in Conference South.
His breakout came in 2013-14 with Burnley in the Championship, where he scored 26 goals in 45 games across all competitions—with a 17% strike rate and goal every 150 minutes—and played a key role in Burnley’s promotion to the Premier League. Last season, he scored 11 in 37 appearances, with an underwhelming 11% strike rate and a goal coming every 280 minutes he was on the pitch.
If, having adjusted to England’s top flight, he can now settle at Liverpool and make a similar impact to his final season in the Championship he could turn into a very successful striker and quite the bargain for his new club. On the other hand, there is a risk that his numbers dropped off last season because, along with most of his Burnley teammates, he had moved above his talent level.
