Liverpool Transfer News: Latest on Luciano Vietto and Danny Ings Rumours

Liverpool have activated the £14.2 million buyout clause of Villarreal striker Luciano Vietto, according to Spanish publication AS (h/t Will Giles of the Metro).

Giles' report also suggests Atletico Madrid and Arsenal are interested in the Argentine striker, with his "preferred destination" being the former. Vietto netted 12 strikes in 17 La Liga starts and 15 substitute appearances during the 2014-15 campaign, per WhoScored.com. He also smashed in six goals during 10 Europa League performances, proving himself as an intelligent, crafty and clinical forward.

Vietto loves possession at his feet and is the type of player to shoot on sight whenever possible. At 21 years old, he is a top prospect for the future, someone who can lead breakaway attacks or finish them off with clever movement.

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However, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers will have his work cut out if Atletico do decide to trigger his release clause, as tweeted by David Amoyal of GianlucaDiMarzio.com:

Vietto's qualities can be seen below:

Rodgers desperately needs a new striker after seeing his side net just 52 Premier League goals during the recently finished campaign, compared to 101 the year before. Neil Jones of the Liverpool Echo reports the club will "open talks" with Burnley's Danny Ings this week ahead of his potential free transfer July 1.

The team would still need to pay a tribunal fee for the Englishman—somewhere in the region of £4 million, per Jones—but Ings is said to "favour a move to Anfield" over Tottenham Hotspur, another interested side.

The 22-year-old enjoyed a respectable first season in the Premier League, netting 11 in 35 matches, and is ready to test himself at a higher level after Burnley's relegation.

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Ings possesses a lightning turn of pace and is good at shielding the ball. He is able to stretch the opposition's defence by breaking beyond the last man and is often seen hovering in the centre of the box.

Liverpool need someone to round off their attacking moves, and at the aforementioned price, Ings is worth a punt. He's unlikely to ever cost less than what Liverpool pay via tribunal, even if things go badly for him.

However, Real Sociedad manager David Moyes is still trying to lure the former Bournemouth striker to Spain, according to Marca, as tweeted by Sport Witness:

Neither striker will come close to filling the void left by Luis Suarez, but Rodgers isn't going to find a direct replacement without spending massively. Both Vietto and Ings have outlined their potential this season and have the potential to be top-quality players in the future.

Daniel Sturridge's fitness remains pivotal to Liverpool's prospects during the 2015-16 campaign, but Vietto and Ings would provide acceptable cover if he continues to struggle with injury.

Rodgers needs to target quality over quantity in all his signings, however, something he didn't manage to do last summer.