Danny Ings to Liverpool: Burnley striker wants move but loan-back is illegal, says Premier League

The youngster is out of contract in the summer

Danny Ings celebrates scoring against Newcastle earlier this month (Getty Images)

Danny Ings covets a move to Liverpool and is likely to join the club, though any hopes of Brendan Rodgers’ team stealing a march on competitors by buying him now and loaning back to Burnley have been ruled out. Liverpool had hoped to complete the move before the transfer window closes on Monday evening and allow the player – who is likely to cost them around £5m – to stay at Turf Moor. But the Premier League have confirmed to The Independent that a loan-back deal of a player in the same season he has signed is a contravention of Premier League rule V.7.1.

Liverpool may try over the weekend to persuade Burnley to part company with the 22-year-old immediately, or will otherwise have to wait until the summer to reach an agreement. The striker is keen and believes he would play regular Premier League football with Liverpool, though Burnley are unwilling to jeopardise their survival hopes by losing him now. It is highly unlikely that the player – who has previously pledged his future until the summer with Burnley - would push for a move before the summer.

The relevant rule categorically states “a temporary transfer to a club may not take place in the transfer window in which the transferor club acquired the player’s registration.”

Burnley chief executive Lee Hoos ruled out the type of deal that Liverpool had hoped to strike. "This type of move would violate Premier League rule V7 regarding transfers so simply cannot happen," he said. The rule states: "A temporary transfer to a club may not take place in the transfer window in which the transferor club acquired the player's registration."

Ings is Burnley's top goal scorer this season (Getty Images)

It appears that the loan deal structure could jeopardise the sanctity of a Liverpool/Burnley fixture when the sides splay on March 4. Ings, who is in the final six months of his contract at Turf Moor, has attracted interest from Tottenham and Real Sociedad but Burnley want to keep him until the end of the season. Hoos added: "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."