Danny Ings Transfer Blow for Liverpool, Latest Reds Rumours

Liverpool's reported pursuit of Burnley striker Danny Ings has been categorically shut down by the Clarets hierarchy.

James Pearce in the Liverpool Echo recently suggested that the Reds were looking to broker a deal ahead of Monday's transfer deadline that would see the striker sign for the Anfield outfit, before being loaned back to Turf Moor for the remainder of the Premier League season.

However, Burnley chief executive Lee Hoos has ruled out the move, suggesting that such a switch would violate Premier League rules, to say nothing of the fact that the club are not prepared to let Ings go, per BBC Sport:

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This type of move would violate Premier League rule V7 regarding transfers so simply cannot happen. A temporary transfer to a club may not take place in the transfer window in which the transferor club acquired the player's registration. Over the course of the window, the player himself, (manager) Sean Dyche and the chairman have made it clear he won't be going anywhere and we consider that the end of the matter.

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Sports lawyer Ian Lynam clarifies the matter further, outlining why Liverpool could not go through with a deal that looks very similar to the one struck for Lille's Divock Origi in the summer:

Ings was absolutely essential to Burnley's successful promotion from the Championship last term as he scored 21 goals, and he has continued to be effective in the top flight this season, netting seven times, per WhoScored.

However, Sean Dyche's side are set for a relegation battle in the current term and 22-year-old Ings will be vital if Burnley are to avoid the drop.

Brendan Rodgers is finally set to welcome Daniel Sturridge back into the Anfield fold after five months out through injury, but the Reds are still lacking in the strike department.

Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli have failed miserably as adequate replacements for Luis Suarez since their arrival in the summer, with B/R UK's Matt Ladson suggesting below that the Italian could well be on his way out:

Ings has shown signs that he could become a very effective goalscorer in the Premier League, and as football writer Nooruddean Choudry notes, he will only improve as he gains more experience: 

The former Bournemouth man is clearly set to stay put at Burnley for the remainder of the season, but Liverpool may well return for him in the summer when Rodgers will surely be clearing out his current strikers—minus Sturridge—and looking to make improvements up front.

Elsewhere, Liverpool's pursuit of Paris St-Germain's Ezequiel Lavezzi has reportedly been given a boost with Napoli pulling out of the race to sign their former player, per Hannah Duncan in Metro. 

Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images

Although the Serie A side are clearly not interested, with sporting director Riccardo Bigon telling Sky Italia (h/t Duncan) "Lavezzi is not a necessity for us", a late January move for the Argentinian forward from Liverpool seems highly unlikely.

Rodgers recently stated his belief that the Anfield outfit would carry out no business in the current window, per Metro's Vaishali Bhardwaj, and that certainly looks set to be the case.

But, come summer, Ings could well be an astute purchase for Liverpool, as he would bring youth and endeavour to the side and would not break the bank.