Newcastle and Saints chase Danny Ings signature in winter window

Newcastle United, 6/5 with Coral for a top half finish, and Southampton are set to go head-to-head over Burnley striker Danny Ings in January.

Tabloid reports claim the Clarets, who are even-money favourites to finish bottom, could cash in on England Under-21 international Ings during the winter window, as they would lose him for nothing in the summer when he is out of contract.

After missing three games earlier in the campaign with a hamstring injury, Ings has scored three times in his last two Premier League outings to once again raise his profile. He formed a prolific partnership with Wales frontman Sam Vokes, who has also been sidelined (since the spring with a knee ligament tear), that fired Sean Dyche’s side to promotion last term.

Tyneside team Newcastle are short of striking options with just Papiss Cisse and summer bargain buy Ayoze Perez currently in the first team picture at St James’ Park. Magpies manager Alan Pardew also has French forward Emmanuel Riviere and Argentine attacker Facundo Ferreyra at his disposal, but the latter has only turned out for the Under-21 side.

With Senegal striker Cisse set to represent his country at the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations in January, this may leave Newcastle short in attack. Ings represents a decent investment for the Magpies, as he would be available for a cut-price fee with just six months left on his deal at Turf Moor.

The same could be said of Southampton, though, who will lose Cisse’s compatriot Sadio Mane and Zambia frontman Emmanuel Mayuka to the tournament held in Equatorial Guinea. Ronald Koeman will still have summer signings Shane Long and Graziano Pelle at Saints, however, plus Jay Rodriguez, who should return to action in the New Year following a lengthy lay-off.

It is this latter player, not to mention Ings’ links to St Mary’s, that could give Koeman an edge in negotiations. Burnley sold Rodriguez to Southampton in the summer of 2012 and, prior to his injury, he was prolific. They played together in the Turf Moor attack and the prospect of reprising that partnership at 5/2 top four chances Saints.