Danny Ings Boost, Danilo Rumours Emerge

Posted Monday, February 16, 2015 by Bleacherreport.com

Liverpool target Danny Ings has been urged by his current Burnley boss, Sean Dyche, to stay in the Premier League should he decide to leave the Clarets at the end of the season.

The 22-year-old striker's contract at Turf Moor expires at the end of the season, and reports have suggested Ings is already close to confirming a summer move to La Liga club Real Sociedad, per Chris Wheeler of the Mail Online.

However, Dyche believes a move to La Real would have a negative effect on Ings' progression, and he has advised him to stay in the Premier League—a boost for leading suitors Liverpool, per the Daily Star's Marc Williams:

For his development he wants to be in the top end of the Premier League. It is the most powerful league in the world. His aspirations need to be top end of the Premier League. The middle of La Liga is no use. That is not doing us down, it is the reality of the market we are in. If I had seen him play at Manchester United on Wednesday, I would be knocking on the door to try and get him.

Liverpool tried to buy Ings in January to bolster their strike department, but their plan to then loan him back to Burnley for the rest of the season turned out to be against Premier League rules, per a statement by Burnley on their official website (via The Guardian's Andy Hunter).

Danny Ings Boost, Danilo Rumours Emerge

However, the Reds will likely go in for him again in the summer, with Ings having impressed this season for struggling Burnley, scoring nine league goals, per WhoScored.com.

As football writer Nooruddean Choudry notes, Ings will only improve in the coming years as he gains more experience:

Ings is only 22, yet people are talking about him as if he's 32 & can't get any better. He's still young. It's not like he's Rickie Lambert.

— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) January 30, 2015
The same cannot necessarily be said for one of Daniel Sturridge's current strike deputies at Anfield, Rickie Lambert, with the former Southampton man having struggled to break into Liverpool's first team this term.

Similarly, Ings would be an improvement on Fabio Borini and Mario Balotelli, both of whom have underwhelmed this term, with B/R UK's Matt Ladson predicting the former Manchester City man's departure in the summer:

While Brendan Rodgers' men are currently in decent form—they are unbeaten in nine league games—and Sturridge looks good after returning from injury, another injury for the Englishman would see Liverpool in crisis upfront once again.

Ings' arrival in the summer would add much needed depth in the department, and if he follows the advice of his current boss, the switch to Anfield could be impending.

Liverpool are also reportedly looking at 18-year-old Braga midfielder Danilo, with the Reds having sent scouts to watch him play, per Portuguese football writer Jan Hagen:

Braga take-on Arouca in 15 minutes. Liverpool scouts present at The Quarry to watch 18-year-old Danilo. Line-ups: pic.twitter.com/Wfqra2obRC

— Jan Hagen (@PortuBall) February 15, 2015
Reports previously came out from O Jogo (h/t Sport Witness) linking the Reds with the talented Brazilian, and it seems that he is most certainly on the Liverpool radar.

A defensive midfielder with great talent, Danilo could flourish under Rodgers and could add midfield strength at Anfield with Steven Gerrard set to depart in the summer.

Danny Ings Boost, Danilo Rumours Emerge

He has made 16 league appearances for fourth-placed Braga this season, per WhoScored, and he would likely relish a move to the Premier League.

Rodgers has a history of working well with young talent, and Danilo could benefit hugely from playing under the Northern Irishman, though a regular first-team spot would not be likely for a season or two.