According to a recent report from The Daily Echo, Southampton are not interested in a summer move for Danny Ings. The 25-year-old has been linked with a move away from Liverpool this summer after mustering just 25 senior appearances for the Reds since his move to Anfield back in 2015, with his first team opportunities looking bleak given the fine form of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, and Mohamed Salah.

Yet The Daily Echo report that he is unlikely to be joining Southampton this summer, which is why Mark Hughes’ men must focus their striker hunt on Celtic, specifically Moussa Dembele, as they continue their pursuit of much-needed attacking reinforcements.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, the Saints were somewhat fortunate to avoid relegation from the Premier League last season given they finished just three points clear of the bottom three, with their paltry tally of 37 goals from their 38 games playing a huge part in their struggles.

Charlie Austin, who only appeared 24 times in the league, and Dusan Tadic ended the season as the club’s top-scorers with a meagre seven goals, while the likes of Shane Long, Guido Carrillo, and to a lesser extent Manolo Gabbiadini failed to regularly produce the goods in the final third of the pitch.

As such, it’s clear that Hughes must strengthen up top this summer if he is to take Southampton back to the top half of the division, and Celtic’s Dembele should be the man he seeks to do just that.

The France Under-21 international has been in sensational goal-scoring form for the Bhoys ever since his move from Fulham back in 2016, with the forward bagging an impressive 48 goals in 89 appearances for the Scottish giants, 16 goals of which coming last term as Brendan Rodgers’ side completed another domestic treble.

Obviously, the 21-year-old has been a hugely important part of things under Rodgers at Parkhead and the club will certainly want to retain his services beyond the summer transfer deadline, yet Southampton can offer him the opportunity to really test himself in the Premier League - competition he arguably isn’t getting at present in Scotland.

So while it’d clearly be a blow to Celtic to lose Dembele, it’s a move Southampton must seek to make given they are not interested in Ings, and are in dire need of a striker in a bid to move up the Premier League table this season.

Southampton and Celtic fans… what do you think? Let us know!