One of Brendan Rodgers’ final Liverpool signings leaves on season-long loan

Injuries haunted him at Anfield but there could be a fresh start in the South of England.

When word came through, just after 3pm, on the final day of the summer transfer window that Liverpool had rejected a bid for Ragnar Klavan, many joked that Manchester United were getting desperate. The Premier League kicks off on Friday and all the deals are done... for now. There will be more players on the move in the winter window but, for now, the focus is on the football. Liverpool did indeed hang onto Klavan but they were able to find a taker for Danny Ings, albeit on a season-long loan. The club had been hoping to sell the England international but few clubs were willing to splash out the €20m asking price for a player who has been hit with a number of injuries in recent years. Ings arrived at Anfield three years ago and was one of Brendan Rodgers' final signings from his stint as Liverpool manager. Signing him as a 23-year-old who had impressed with Burnley, Rodgers was hoping to add a natural goalscorer to the Reds' ranks. He ended up making just 25 appearances, scoring four goals, and Jurgen Klopp did not see the best of him after he took over from Rodgers in October 2015. Ings made only two appearances in 2016/17. His 14 outings, last season, represented a big improvement but many of them were off the bench. Not long after the summer transfer window closed, Southampton released a statement confirming the 26-year-old had joined 'on a season-long loan, ahead of a permanent move next summer'. Southampton manager Mark Hughes commented:

"There was significant competition for Danny, with a lot of clubs keen to complete a deal for him, so we’re clearly delighted that he chose to join us. "We have admired him for some time now, not only for his ability, but also his character and personality, which we feel will be an ideal fit in our dressing room. He’s obviously a local boy, who gives us another excellent option up front. "He didn’t get to play as much as he would have liked at Liverpool, but he has been injury-free for some time now and has a real point to prove. "It’s a great boost for us on the eve of the season to bring another quality player into the squad, and we’re excited about what he can bring to the group."

Ings will provide competition to the Southampton forwards division, which includes Ireland striker Shane Long.