Danny Ings should avoid a move to Tottenham at all costs

Kevin Phillips, Alan Shearer and Matt Le Tissier. Apart from all having played for Southampton, there's one thing these three greats have in common - they all have a worse goals per game ratio for the Saints than Danny Ings.

His incredible record of 40 goals in 81 matches really is testament to the quality he's shown over the past 18 months on the south coast. And, after stalling his contract negotiations with club, it looks as though his time at Southampton may be coming to an end.

Ings is reportedly looking to swap St. Mary's for the opportunity of Champions League football and, given his Premier League goalscoring record since the start of the 2019/20 season (29 goals), he won't be short of suitors.

One of those suitors isJose Mourinho's Tottenham Hotspur. While, on paper, the club suits Ings' hunger for top level football and the player suits Tottenham's need for depth in the striker position, the move is not the right one. For either party.

Why? Well it's quite simple to be honest.

From Ings' point of view, it would be a down right mistake to move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for game time.

Southampton's star has smack bang in the middle of his prime and at 28 years of age, he's never looked better. The striker is as deadly in front of goal as he has ever been, exemplified by a return of about a goal every two games for the Saints.

Since making his move to Southampton permanent in the summer of 2019, Ings finished last season's Premier League campaign second in the scoring charts with 22 goals - one behind golden boot winner Jamie Vardy. He has followed that feat with seven in 13 games this time round - clearly, things are clicking at St. Mary's.

Meanwhile, in north London, Harry Kane has been Tottenham's main man for the best part of seven years, scoring 155 Premier League goals along the way.

While Spurs may represent a bigger stage than Southampton, Ings has to think about the minutes he would get on said stage. For a player who is at the peak of his powers to move club for a bigger pay cheque and an inevitable number two role would be disappointing, and doesn't seem in the striker's character.

Looking at things from Spurs' perspective, a factor that could - or should - dissuade the club from pursuing Ings is the seeming inevitability that Mourinho won't get the best out of the player.

Ings has thrived under the management of Ralph Hasenhuttl, who deploys a system based on an energetic and high-press style of play. Ings gets on the ball in the final phases of moves and tries to win the ball back high up the pitch. The striker ranked fifth in the whole league last season for times he pressed an opponent (859), while he ranked 183rd for touches on the ball (54% of which were in the final third), despite playing all 38 games of the campaign.

Meanwhile, under Mourinho, Kane has visibly assumed a more creative role as well as being asked to drop deep into the midfield. The striker's stats speak for themselves - 23 goal contributions this season, 11 of which are assists. Kane ranks 40th in the league for times he's pressed his opposition this campaign, while the majority of his touches have come in the middle third of the pitch. The Tottenham man is also averaging a 3.5 shot creation rate per game, compared to Ings' 2.3.

It's evident that the two roles are completely different. Hasenhuttl's striker is expected to press constantly and win the ball early, while also saving his best moments for the final third. Whereas Mourinho's number nine is a more creative role, carrying counter attacks and releasing team mates in behind the back line - something not suited to Ings' game and therefore an inevitable waste of Spurs cash.

It does seem likely that Ings is going to move on from St. Mary's sooner rather than later. While he may never be thought of in the same regard as Le Tissier by Southampton fans, there's no doubt he'll be fondly remembered by supporters. With plenty of options for his next step, it would be a shame to see a potentially fantastic few years stifled by one poorly thought out move.