Liverpool have made a bid for Burnley striker Danny Ings, but in an effort to make sure the deal goes through have told struggling Burnley that he can remain at Turf Moor on loan until the end of the season.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is hoping to get the future England star now rather than wait till the summer when he knows he will be up against other clubs looking to sign the 22-year-old.
Ings is out of contract at the end of the season and will be available for a compensation fee that could prove to be less than £3 million should he decide to leave Burnley, but a deal with Liverpool now would guarantee the Lancashire club more money.
Ings arrived at Burnley from Bournemouth in 2011 and was a major player in the clubs promotion push to the Premiership last season.
Liverpool meanwhile want to ensure that next season they have enough firepower to compete after selling Suarez in the summer and then losing Daniel Sturridge to injury.
With Ings on board, and on loan at Lille Divock Origi arriving the Reds will be well placed in attack for the 2015/2016 season.
Meanwhile Sturridge hopes to feature tomorrow against West Ham after being out since late August with boss Rodgers saying: “We need to have players who are fresh. Daniel coming back will add to that. He will bring something really creative and quality to the team. Then it’s a case of managing in behind that. The system does not have to change.
“No question Daniel’s injury had a huge impact on our season. You saw the ‘reference’ he was against Tottenham [in August] and the team struggled for a time without him but we have returned to our football ideas and have been getting better all the time. Daniel will shine a different light on the team. He has looked very good in training.
