Squad number change means Villa won’t upgrade Ings [Opinion]

Aston Villa announced on Friday afternoon that Danny Ings would wear the #9 shirt for the 2022/23 campaign. The 30-year-old wore the #20 short upon his arrival from Southampton last summer, but he’s been given a show of faith by Steven Gerrard that may also double as a message to supporters.

Ings had an uncertain future months ago as Gerrard was believed to be in the market for a new striker. Keinan Davis was expected to be sold to Nottingham Forest while Cameron Archer wasn’t deemed ready for the first-team, so Villa needed another centre-forward in case Ings was sold, as Ollie Watkins would be the only attacker left.

But with Villa making Ings their #9 for the new season, it doesn’t appear Gerrard will push for another striker. Instead, he will hold out hope that the England international can register a better tally than last season (30 Premier League games, 7 goals). Read Aston Villa maintained that Gerrard would find it difficult to replace Ings, as they wouldn’t have many suitors.

Villa paid £25m for the 30-year-old and handed him a three-year deal worth £120k-per-week, so few clubs would consider that value for money. Gerrard has to hope he can replicate his 22 goals in 38 games from 2019/20 because he isn’t going anywhere.

In other news, Aston Villa ‘rejected’ bid from Newcastle for Douglas Luiz