This article is part of Football FanCast's Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba's haircuts to League Two relegation battles...

Back in the summer, Southampton's capture of Che Adams looked like an exciting swoop.

The Englishman had just netted 22 Championship goals for Birmingham - attracting the interest of Arsenal and Manchester United as a result - but it was Ralph Hasenhuttl's side who managed to get Adams to put pen to paper on a contract at St Mary's.

Just 23 years of age, English and seemingly carrying bags of potential, it looked like an excellent deal at £15m - you only need to look at Leicester's signing of James Maddison from the Championship to see the value in poaching blossoming English talent.

However, Adams' brief time on the south coast has not quite gone to plan, and it is looking as if Southampton may have wasted their money on the striker for one reason.

The blistering form of Danny Ings.

Aside from the fact that the 5 foot 9 forward is yet to open his account for Southampton, despite making 13 appearances across both the Premier League and the Carabao Cup, it is the form of the former Liverpool man Ings that is making the £15m spent on Adams look foolish.

Ings has netted an impressive nine Premier League goals this term, placing him as the division's joint-fifth scorer alongside Harry Kane, Sergio Aguero and Sadio Mane.

Of course, the more firepower the better in theory but it is at the back where the £15m on Adams should've been invested instead.

Southampton have conceded a Premier League-high 35 goals in just 16 games this season, with the likes of Cedric Soares and Jack Stephens weak links, while Hasenhuttl has also alternated between Angus Gunn and Alex McCarthy in goal.

If reports that club owner Gao Jisheng will have a tight stranglehold on the purse-strings this winter are true, that only makes the significant amount of cash spent on Adams look even more misplaced - Ings is putting the summer deal to shame with his goals.

In other news, Southampton are deluded with their outlook on this particular player of theirs...