BURNLEY have rejected a formal offer for young striker Danny Ings from his old club Bournemouth.

Former Clarets boss Eddie Howe has earmarked the 20-year-old as one of his top transfer targets after steering the Cherries from the foot of League One to automatic promotion in his second spell as manager.

Howe spent around £1million on bringing Ings to Burnley from Bournemouth in his first summer after leaving the south coast for Turf Moor in January 2011.

He set about building his team around the Cherries youth team product last July, after an early injury delayed his debut until February 2012.

Ings made up for lost time by scoring three goals from six starts in the last eight games.

But Howe’s plans for the 2012/13 campaign were shelved after Ings suffered a second serious knee injury in 12 months during the final pre-season friendly at Rochdale, requiring surgery.

He recovered to mark his comeback in October under caretaker boss Terry Pashley, following Howe’s return to Bournemouth.

Ings struggled to secure a regular place in the starting line-up under new boss Sean Dyche. But he went on to play a key part in Burnley’s end of season run-in, playing every minute of their final three fixtures and scoring the last of his three goals in the 2-1 win over Wolves at Molineux, which confirmed the Clarets’ Championship status in the penultimate game.

Now Howe is keen on a reunion with the eye-catching and versatile forward after getting backing from co-owner Maxim Demin, a Russian businessman, to prepare his squad for their first taste of Championship football.

Howe made a gentleman’s agreement with the Clarets not to return for any of his former staff – playing or otherwise – before the end of last season.

But there is nothing to stop the 35-year-old from now forging a reunion with any of his old Turf Moor troops.

Burnley immediately knocked back yesterday’s bid for Ings, which is thought to be similar to the figure Bournemouth accepted from the Clarets in August 2011.

It is possible that the Championship newcomers will revisit their offer in the coming days.