Journalist Tom Barclay is still surprised that Tottenham didn't take up the chance to sign Danny Ings from Southampton.

According to the Telegraph, Nuno Espirito Santo was keen on bringing the striker to north London earlier this summer to play alongside Harry Kane.

However, less than two weeks before the start of the new Premier League season, Ings made the surprise switch to Aston Villa for £25m.

What happened with Ings this summer?

With Ings in the final year of his contract at Southampton and reluctant to sign a new deal, last season always looked like being his last on the South Coast.

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He had been a terrific servant for the Saints, scoring 46 goals in 100 appearances, including an outstanding 22 in one Premier League season two years ago.

However, the Telegraph revealed last January that the striker was reluctant to commit his future to the club because he wanted to return to the Champions League after making four appearances in the competition for Liverpool.

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Ings did end up leaving but didn't sign for a club playing in Europe's elite competition, with Villa not offering any form of Europe after their 11th-place finish.

Tottenham are playing in Europe this season, albeit the far less appealing third-tier of the Europa Conference League.

And Barclay couldn't believe that Nuno didn't push harder to try and bring the 29-year-old to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

What did Barclay say?

He told GIVEMESPORT: "Danny Ings is so good, he creates so many of his chances, he's such a good finisher. I'm still surprised that Spurs didn't take him."

Did Tottenham need Ings?

Even before Harry Kane had made a shocking start to the season, Spurs were crying out for someone to provide competition for the England captain and give him a rest when needed in non-Premier League games.

Such is their lack of a back-up for Kane, he's been forced to play in three Europa Conference League games this season, plus the Carabao Cup tie at Wolves last month, which would have been the perfect game for Ings.

Furthermore, signing him could have given Nuno the option of playing him alongside or just ahead of Kane and whilst Ings isn't exactly firing on all cylinders, Tottenham would have definitely been a stronger squad with him in it.