Micah Richards has made a bizarre claim that Aston Villa should re-sign a West Ham United outcast.

It’s fair to say that West Ham have been rather unlucky in their hunt for a striker. On paper, some of the players they have signed over recent years should have scored plenty of goals for them, but that has simply not been the case. 

One of the most disappointing signings has been Danny Ings. An impressive goalscoring record, plenty of Premier League experience and a ridiculously high wage meant that expectations were through the roof for Ings. Unfortunately, the Englishman has not had the best of time in East London, only scoring three goals since joining the Hammers almost a year ago. 

Despite this, Micah Richards has recently baffled listeners of The Rest is Football podcast by seemingly suggesting that his former club Aston Villa should consider re-signing Ings.

“It’s difficult to play the system, then have someone come into the team who is not expecting to play every week,” Richards explained. “That’s why it’s difficult.”

“Someone like Danny Ings, but not necessarily Danny Ings – someone younger.”

It seems like a ludicrous thing to say given that they only let go off the striker last January due to the fact he did not suit their system. Watkins may be prone to injury but Ings just did not work out for Villa. Granted he is not getting any younger and he was certainly past his best while at the Birmingham club, but even then someone as knowledgeable as Micah Richards should be able to understand that Ings is not the type of player they need.

Villa certainly need back up to Watkins, but “someone like Danny Ings” does not seem like the ideal fit for the Villains. While a lot of West Ham fans would be more than happy to see the Englishman return back to the Midlands, it’s highly unlikely that he will be joining his former teammates in their title race no matter what Micah Richards believes.