REAL Sociedad have all but admitted defeat in their pursuit of Burnley striker Danny Ings.

The Clarets frontman is out of contract this summer and will leave Turf Moor with Premier League side Liverpool leading the chase for the England Under-21 star.

Spanish side Sociedad, managed by former Manchester United boss David Moyes, held an interest in Ings and the Burnley man visited Spain earlier in the year.

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But Sociedad club president Jokin Aperribay admits it is ‘highly unlikely’ that the 22-year-old will move to Spain.

“We have monitored him since the winter transfer market,” Aperribay said of Ings. “But we have not spoken to Ings’ entourage for almost a month now.

“I don’t think he’s an easy candidate to arrive to La Real. He has a lot of offers from England and we will have to wait to see what he decides.

“But it looks highly unlikely that he will join us.”

The development is good news for Burnley who would receive a far smaller compensation fee if Ings elected to go abroad.

The Clarets can expect around £5million if Ings remains in this country but that fee will be dramatically reduced to around £250,000 if he joins a foreign club.

Ings is thought to be closing in on a move to Liverpool after rejecting the offer of a new deal at Turf Moor, with sources in Liverpool expecting a swift and straight-forward conclusion to contract talks.

The striker would like his future resolved before he flies to the Czech Republic for the European Under 21 Championships and has his heart set on a move to Anfield.

Meanwhile, Sociedad have also quashed speculation that Moyes, a keen admirer of Ings, will leave the club this summer and return to coaching in England.

Moyes took the helm of Real Sociedad in November with the club just above the drop zone and steered them to a 12th-placed finish.

Aperribay said on his club’s official website: “We made an important structural decision by bringing in David Moyes last year.

“He has been planning for next season since the month of January.”