Blackpool winger Tom Ince is set to become Liverpool's first signing of the January transfer window, with negotiations having begun over a £4m move for the England Under-21 international, according to the Liverpool Echo.

The 20 year old has scored 13 goals in 19 starts for the Tangerines this season and has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League.

And Liverpool appear to have won the race for Ince, who left the club 16 months ago for £250,000, and is set to become the club's first signing in the January window.

Tom Ince
Ince is set to become Liverpool's first January signing.

Upon selling Ince last year during the tenure of Kenny Dalglish, the club's inserted a 35% sell on clause, which should reduce Blackpool's £6m valuation.

The winger is the son of former Anfield favourite Paul Ince, who spent two years at the club between 1997-1999.

Prior to replacing Dougie Freedman at Crystal Palace, former Blackpool boss Ian Holloway admitted there was interest in Ince from afar, but that father Paul wanted him to remain in the Championship.

"There was interest in Tom last week," Holloway said in August.

"No one has heard about it but I'll share it with you. His dad wants him to stay with us."

Ince made just one senior appearance for Liverpool, against Northampton Town in the League Cup during Roy Hodgson's spell as manager, but after a loan spell at Notts County, he turned down a new contract and moved to Bloomfield Road.

After helping Blackpool into the play-offs last season, Ince scored against West Ham United in a losing cause in the Wembley final before making a storming start to the current campaign.

Brendan Rodgers' start to life as Liverpool manager had been defined by an intent to use young players in the first-team, with Andre Wisdom, Suso and Raheem Sterling among those who have played a significant role this season.

However, Liverpool are still to secure Sterling to a new contract and risk losing the England international in either the January transfer window or in the summer for a nominal fee.

Having missed out on a series of high-profile signings in the summer of the transfer window, Rodgers is expected to make several additions in the New Year as the club attempt to improve on tlast term's eighth place finish.