'Huge factor' - Danny Ings explains why he has joined Wycombe after leaving Sheffield United
Danny Ings has joined Wycombe Wanderers on a free transfer after being released by Sheffield United at the end of last season.
Former Sheffield United striker Danny Ings has admitted that several factors came into his thinking when making the decision to join Wycombe Wanderers.
After leaving Bramall Lane following the end of last season, Ings was unveiled as a Wycombe player on Friday afternoon, becoming their second free-agent signing in as many days after the League One club swooped for former Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith on Thursday.
Ings, who scored two goals in 24 appearances for the Blades last season after joining the club last August, looked set to join Leicester City during the summer. However, the Foxes pulled the plug on a move for the former Liverpool and Burnley striker, meaning he found himself without a club as the season got underway.
However, after initially expressing interest in him during the summer, Wycombe returned to the table and invited the former United striker to spend some time training with them over the past week or so before deciding to offer him a deal.
Having been without a club for a few months, Ings was hungry to secure a route back into football. He revealed that Wycombe was an ideal club for him for several reasons, not least because of its location, which is ideal for him and gives him the opportunity to spend more time with his s
Ings told Wycombe’s YouTube channel: “I think, for me, at the stage I’m at in my career, there are a lot of different factors. Obviously, you want to play football for as long as you can.
“Location is key as well. I’ve got a young boy who wants me around a lot, which was a huge factor, but also getting a feel for the group. I did that this week. I really enjoyed my time this week, and it helped me make my decision.”
Outlining how long a move to Wycombe had been on the cards, Ings continued: “I came in, I think, in July and kind of met everybody, saw the club, saw how fantastically it’s run, and saw all the stuff behind the team.
“It's a really good set-up. And yes, here we are now, a couple of months later, and ready to go.”
The striker’s move to Adams Park will see him play in League One for the first time since leaving Bournemouth to join Burnley in August 2011.
Relishing the challenge, he added: “We shouldn't be in it (football) if we're not looking forward to the challenge, and this is a new one that I'm really looking forward to.
“As I say, it's a great group, and I've got a feel for it after this week. So I'm really excited.”