Championship Star Ince Rejected Liverpool's January Offer, Father Claims

Paul Ince has revealed Liverpool tempted his son Tom with an offer to return to Anfield during the January transfer window that the youngster decided to turn down.

Ince Jr, sold to Blackpool by Liverpool in 2011, decided to find a new club last month after his father was sacked as the Tangerines manager and Brendan Rodgers sought to re-sign him amid failed pursuits of Mohamed Salah and Yevhen Konoplyanka.

However, the 22 year-old decided instead on a loan move to Crystal Palace until the end of the season.

Asked about the winger's surprising decision in an interview with Sky Sports Ince's father said: "Liverpool were in but I don't think Thomas is ready to go to Liverpool yet."

"Brendan (Rodgers) has done very well there and he does play the kids but for his progression as a footballer it needed to be a Stoke, a Swansea, a Palace or a Hull at this point."

"Maybe in two or three years' time that might be a move for him," Ince's dad said.

The former Manchester United and Liverpool midfielder also confirmed Stoke, Hull and Sunderland also approached the 22-year-old.

"We spoke to a few clubs, we went down to Swansea and we spoke to Mark Hughes, Brucey (Steve Bruce), Gus (Poyet), we were all over the place."

At the same time the Palace winger insisted in an interview with TalkSPORT that despite a number of clubs across the country vying for his signature a move to London was the perfect choice for him

"I went to Swansea and spoke to them, then I spoke to Steve Parish and then on the way back up north I spoke to Mark Hughes and Stoke. The whole saga wasn't entirely true, I spoke to three clubs who I felt I would fit in well at and Crystal Palace were the one for me."

"I came down to London, spoke to Steve [Parish] and Tony and I got that sense that Palace is the place for me for the rest of the season and now I've just got to show the faith that they've placed in me."