Report: Spurs face ‘serious challenge’ in landing reported top transfer target

The Evening Standard have revealed that Tottenham Hotspur face an uphill battle in their efforts to sign Danny Ings due to the club’s strained relationship with Southampton.

News broke on Tuesday that Tottenham had made Ings, who is into the last year of his contract at the St Mary’s, their number one target.

It was asserted that Nuno Espirito Santo wants to employ two up front at Spurs next season and sees the Saints star as the man to partner Harry Kane.

The Evening Standard have now also reiterated that the new Spurs head coach is keen on securing Ings but add that Tottenham face ‘a serious challenge’ in snapping up the England international.

The report claims that Southampton continue to maintain that the 28-year-old is not for sale despite the striker turning down the chance to sign a new deal.

Even if Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men were to sell Ings, it is said that Spurs are the last club they would sell him to thanks to their uneasy relationship with the North London club.

It is explained that two clubs fell out during Tottenham’s acquisition of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg last summer, with the Saints not being impressed by the Lilywhites’ attempts to turn the Dane’s head early in negotiations and Daniel Levy’s infamous hardball approach.

So it looks as though Spurs’ conduct in the Hojbjerg negotiations 12 months ago could damage their chances of landing Ings this summer.

Spurs Web Opinion

Even if Southampton were willing to do business with us, I do not see Ings wanting to come to Spurs. After his struggles at Liverpool, the 28-year-old will want a guarantee of regular first-team football, which he will not get at Spurs if Kane and Son both stay.

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