In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast’s Tom Ward, former footballer and current pundit Carlton Palmer has made a claim regarding Southampton striker Danny Ings’ valuation.

The former Liverpool man started the season in superb form, contributing five goals and two assists in seven Premier League appearances, which has seen him average an excellent 7.46 rating (per WhoScored).

The England international also enjoyed a brilliant 2019/20 season under Ralph Hasenhuttl, which saw him finish as the joint-second top scorer in the Premier League, after grabbing an impressive 22 goals in the top-flight.

Transfermarkt currently value the 28-year-old at £18 million, but Palmer has suggested that he’s worth far more, as he told FFC:

“When you look at the players that move today, I don’t know where they come up with the valuations. At the moment, [in] the current market, you’ve got to say he’s worth £40 million. In a normal market, I wouldn’t say that, but in the current market, you’d say £35/£40 million.”

Considering the sort of fees that have been spent on players in recent years, with Neymar joining PSG for nearly £200 million the prime example, we can see why Palmer might value Ings at £40 million.

After all, the former Burnley man has proved himself as a consistent goalscorer in the Premier League in recent seasons and appears to have overcome the injury issues that were troubling him at Liverpool.

Ings was linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur during the summer transfer window but the Saints rejected their formal approach, suggesting that they wouldn’t be willing to sell the striker unless a ridiculous fee was offered.

However, with his contract set to expire at the end of 2022, the Saints will be keen to tie him down to a new deal in the near future to ensure that he commits his future to the club and retains his value as a result.

Although the striker is currently sidelined after picking up an injury against Aston Villa earlier in the season, it is expected that he will return this month and with Southampton having started the season in impressive form, it surely won’t be long until he is back on the scoresheet.

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