Liverpool head coach Jürgen Klopp reportedly wants Danny Ings to remain at the Anfield for the long term and would reject any late bid for the striker as the summer transfer window slowly comes down to a close.
The 24-year-old England international had been sidelined for most of last term because of a season-ending ACL injury he suffered in October of 2015 during his first training session with then newly-appointed manager Klopp. He was able to come back sooner than expected, suiting up as a substitute in the Reds' final match of the 2015-2016 season against West Bromwich Albion that ended in a 1-1 draw.
While having Klopp's approval to stay at the Anfield is definitely a good thing for Ings, what is tricky is that he is not expected to gain that much first-team time as he is currently fourth in the pecking order of central strikers in the German manager's preference behind Roberto Firmino, Divock Origi, and Daniel Sturridge, as per Caught Offside.
"We're counting on Ingsy. He is a fantastic boy," said Klopp said earlier this month. "He was injured since October last year and he needed time. Now he's getting better and better."
With the summer transfer deadline only hours away, Klopp is said to be insistent that Ings is not going anywhere despite a late approach from David Moyes and Sunderland, who wanted to snag the Englishman on loan this season.
Meanwhile, ESPN reported that the Reds have turned down bids from eight English top flight teams for Ings in the past month alone, even as Klopp expects that there will be more to come as the window closes.
The report noted that one unnamed team had offered more than £20 million for Ings, but Klopp had instantly rejected it as he is keen on keeping the 5-foot-10 Winchester, England native to his side.
Ings was acquired by the Reds last summer via free-agency but the Merseyside residents had to pay his former club Burnley an initial £6.5 million and £1.5 million more in performance-related bonuses after a tribunal in April.
It had to go that way because Ings was an under-24 player and according to English football regulations, his transfer fee should be decided by the Professional Football Compensation Committee.