Liverpool sent warning by Burnley over Danny Ings

Burnley have warned rival clubs that the relegation side are under no financial pressure to sell their best players as rumours circulate that Liverpool are preparing to agree a deal to sign Danny Ings.

The Clarets' relegation to the Championship was confirmed on 9 May following the 1-0 victory over Hull City, after wins for Leicester City and Sunderland, coupled with Newcastle's draw with West Brom, sent Sean Dyche's side down after one season in the top flight.

Ings, who has scored 10 Premier League goals this season, is out of contract in the summer and has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool, with a new deal having not yet been agreed.

With Ings not eligible for a free transfer, the Reds face going to a tribunal to acquire the 23-year-old which is expected to see the Lancashire club demand upwards of £6.5m for his signature.

However, Burnley have hinted that they could yet retain Ings and reject the record tribunal fee after the club admitted their future is not reliant on selling their best players.

"We are in the fortunate position right now where we will not be forced to sell anyone for financial reasons," chief executive Lee Hoos said.

"We have managed things well and the whole point of building a squad is to try to hold on to what you have and then build from there. I can't predict the future and what might happen to individuals, but last time we were relegated we were forced to sell players to balance the books.

"We won't be in that position next season and we are now in a position where we can remind the players what we are capable of and that the best way to get to the Premier League is to stick with us and help take us back there."

The ex-Bournemouth striker becomes the second player to escape the grasp of manager Brendan Rodgers after Paul-Georges Ntep, who is rated at £5m, denied he had visited Liverpool's Melwood training ground for talks regarding a move from Rennes.

"I did not go to Liverpool last week, that's completely false," he told J+1. "I have a contract until 2017. Stade Rennais gave me my first professional contract and, for now, I am very well here."