Brendan Rodgers
Reuters

Liverpool are preparing a move to sign Burnley striker Danny Ings in the January transfer window, according to the Mirror.

The Merseyside club are without the services of Daniel Sturridge after the England international suffered an ankle injury during training and he could be out of action until February. The Reds manager Brendan Rodgers has made signing a striker a priority in January.

Ings has been in impressive form for Burnley, scoring 11 in the Championship and 15 in all competitions this term. The striker's brilliant run has seen him being selected by Gareth Southgate for the England U21 squad earlier in October.

The report claims Liverpool manager is looking to strengthen the Reds' strike force and has set his eyes on bringing Ings to Anfield in January. The Merseyside club struggled in Sturridge's absence as they suffered a shock 3-1 defeat to Hull City at the KC Stadium.

The former Chelsea striker's ankle injury has forced the Northern Irishman to bring in a striker in January after Rodgers admitted that Liverpool lack depth in the squad. The Reds manager has already confirmed that he is looking to bring in players as he looks to build for the future.

Ings has been deployed as the central striker by Sean Dyche after the departure of Charlie Austin to Queens Park Rangers in the summer. The striker's run in the Championship has seen Burnley sit third in the league table with 38 points from 18 games, trailing table toppers Leicester by two points.

Burnley are chasing a promotion to the Premier League this season and Dyche is aware that it is important to keep Ings at the club until the end of the season to boost their chances of making it to the top flight football competition in England.

The Championship side are suffering financial crisis after announcing a loss of £8m. The Mirror suggests that if Liverpool make a decent offer for Ings' services - if the England U21 international is willing to make a move to Anfield - it will be hard for Burnley to keep their star player at the club.

Rodgers has long been monitoring Ings before Sturridge's injury. Should Ings decide to join the Reds in January, he is likely to be used as a backup to Sturridge and Luis Suarez.