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Though any chances Liverpool would sign Danny Ings on deadline day likely died the moment it became clear Premier League rules prevented them loaning the player straight back to Burnley for the remainder of the season, with the striker having made clear Liverpool is his preferred destination there remains a chance of a deal getting done following the close of the window.
That’s because while league rules prevent Ings being loaned straight back to Burnley, the Mirror has reported that the two clubs could sign a U8 agreement. Such an agreement would allow his contract rights to be transferred at a later date, and such an agreement can be signed outside of the transfer window. It’s a potentially complex, convoluted approach to getting a deal done, but it may be Liverpool’s best option.
They want to tie down Ings before his contract runs out this summer, but clubs within the same federation aren’t allowed to sign players to pre-contract agreements as would have been the case were Liverpool dealing with a player in Spain or Italy or Germany with six months left on his contract. Burnley, meanwhile, would rather lose Ings on a free this summer than lose him—and their chances at Premier League survival—for a fee today.
Given his contract is running down, any U8 deal would have to go hand in hand with Ings agreeing a new contract with Burnley such that they would have something to transfer to Liverpool in the next window. Liverpool would be expected to pay a fee slightly in excess of what the two clubs agree a tribunal would award Burnley as compensation for developing the 22-year-old striker if he left on a free.
Of course, with Liverpool having failed in their attempts to orchestrate a move for Ings during the window, if they feel confident the striker will choose them when his current deal expires they may simply wait until the summer and pay Burnley developmental compensation.
