LIVERPOOL’s transfer window move for Danny Ings ‘simply cannot happen’, as the Clarets insist they will spend the weekend looking to strengthen rather than weaken the squad.

The Reds were keen on sealing a deal for the 22-year-old striker before Monday’s 11pm deadline, and then loaning him back to Burnley for the remainder of the season.

But such a move would contravene Premier League rules and Burnley chief executive Lee Hoos said the club now ‘consider that the end of the matter’.

Ings is out of contract in the summer and has been linked with Tottenham and David Moyes’ Real Sociedad this month.

However, Liverpool were keen to strike a £5million deal now, thus avoiding a potential war on Ings’ wages when his contract expires, and still allow him to stay in East Lancashire to help in Burnley’s battle to avoid the drop.

But Premier League rules have put paid to that plan.

“This type of move would violate Premier League rule V7 regarding transfers so simply cannot happen,” said Hoos.

“This is the last time we will be making any comment regarding the player’s future.

“Over the course of the window, the player himself, Sean Dyche and the chairman have made it clear he won’t be going anywhere and we consider that the end of the matter.”

Burnley have become frustrated at the constant questions about the player’s future, despite his own commitment until the end of the season, as well as co-chairman Mike Garlick’s first comments that he will ‘100 per cent’ remain at the club beyond the close of the transfer window, which were made at the start of December.

Brendan Rodgers is known to be a big admirer of the England Under-21 striker’s talents, and could yet return in the summer if Ings decides against extending his Turf Moor stay.

Should the Southampton-born striker move to a domestic rival the Clarets would receive compensation, which would probably be in the region of £3million to £5million.

But if he agrees a move abroad, perhaps to Sociedad, with Moyes having watched him in person on two occasions this season, that figure would only be around £200,000, due to Fifa rules.

With Ings definitely not leaving, the final three days of the transfer window will be spent on trying to bring players in, with Hoos insisting the focus at the club was on adding to the squad before 11pm on Monday.

“We want to strengthen the squad, not weaken it,” he said.