Burnley have no intention of cashing in on Danny Ings during the January transfer window, despite his current contract status.
The 22-year-old scored 21 goals in the Championship last season as the Clarets were promoted to the top-flight as divisional runners-up to Leicester City, and he has this term shown he can also produce on the biggest stage. Ings, formerly of Bournemouth, has played 19 times in the Premier League thus far, and has contributed seven goals for the Lancastrians.
However, with his contract set to expire at the end of the existing campaign, the England Under-21 international has been linked with a move during the winter window, with Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur all credited with an interest. But despite the risk involved in letting his deal expire, the Turf Moor club don’t seem interested in cashing in.
Speaking as the window enters its final week, Sky Sports reporter James Cooper said: “I’m led to believe the stance of the club remains the same. The striker is not for sale. Danny Ings himself is happy to remain at Turf Moor for the foreseeable future. His contract is up in the summer. He becomes a free agent and then will explore his options whether that is staying with Burnley or perhaps moving on.”
If Burnley had a change of mind in the coming days and decided to cash in on Ings this month, they would likely demand a fee of around £7million; a figure within the reach of those clubs said to be interested. However, as now seems the case, they keep hold of him and he leaves in the summer, they would only get around half of this amount in compensation.
Regardless, it is easy to see why Sean Dyche and the moneymen at the club would rather keep him, considering the riches on offer for another season in the Premier League. And the Clarets certainly need Ings if they are to achieve this objective; with 16 games remaining to play, they are just a point above Hull City and the dreaded trap door which leads into the second-tier.
