Liverpool once took Burnley's 21-goal star - now he is clubless at 34 | OneFootball

Danny Ings never could hit the highs he achieved at Burnley during his time at Liverpool

Danny Ings had the world at his feet back in 2015, after it was likely he'd be leaving Burnley at the end of his contract.

The Clarets had just been relegated back to the Championship after finishing 19th in their first Premier League campaign in five years.

Ings was the star man for Sean Dyche's side that year. He netted 21 times to help Burnley earn promotion the year earlier, and followed that up with a highly respectable 11-goal haul in his first-ever top-flight campaign, despite being relegated.

After showcasing his skills at the top level, it was inevitable he'd be leaving Turf Moor, as his contract came to an end that summer, and his future lay away from the Championship.

A whole host of elite clubs were queuing up to secure his services in England and in Spain, and ultimately, he joined Liverpool.

What Danny Ings said before joining Liverpool from Burnley

Action Images

As it looked more and more likely Burnley would be relegated in 2015, the focus shifted to what the future looked like for Ings. The 22-year-old was on the brink of England call-ups, and it was evident that the right next step could have propelled him into superstardom.

The frontman knew that, too. With the likes of Manchester United and then-David Moyes-led Real Sociedad interested in bringing him in, along with Liverpool, Ings spoke about how important it was for him to be playing regularly at his new club.

He told the Independent, "One thing I don't want to do is go somewhere, and all of a sudden disappear for a while. Somewhere you don't get a look-in.

"You don't want to have a good couple of years, come through the Championship, have a good first year in the Premier League and then not play in the Premier League for another year or so because that is a backward step.

"No matter what contract anyone is on, it is important that you are playing football."

Danny Ings' move to Liverpool was wrecked by injury

Action Images

In the end, Ings did "disappear" at his next club, but for agonising reasons completely out of his control.

On the face of things, Liverpool seemed the right next step for Ings. The Reds had finished sixth in the Premier League in 2014/15, the year following their infamous collapse. The club, therefore, had the potential to challenge for trophies, and Ings would have been a big part of that.

The then-23-year-old scored twice in his first five games for Liverpool, including in the Merseyside Derby draw against Everton in October 2015. That proved to be the final game in the dugout for Brendan Rodgers, and the final game Ings played until the final day.

Indeed, after coming back from making his England debut that international break, Ings picked up a serious knee injury in Jürgen Klopp's first training session as the new boss. He was ruled out until May, and before he returned, it was revealed that Liverpool had to pay Burnley £8 million for his services, a then-record for a tribunal ruling.

Ings spent some more time recovering to begin the following campaign, the first full year under Klopp. But after making just his second appearance of the year against Tottenham Hotspur in the EFL Cup, he tore his ACL again and missed the rest of the season.

Danny Ings' fightback from Liverpool injuries was admirable

Action Images

After consecutive serious knee injuries, it must have been incredibly difficult for Ings to have the confidence he'd had at the end of his Burnley spell. He returned midway through the 2017/18 term, but was used mainly from the bench.

He was loaned out to Southampton in an attempt to revitalise his career, and he did that, and more. Ings stayed fit for longer than he had done in any of his three years at Anfield, playing 24 times and scoring seven. That warranted the Saints making his move permanent, spending £20 million for his services.

£20 million was perhaps seen as a bit of a steep price, but he proved he was worth that and more during the 2019/20 term. Not many would have expected Ings to have played a part in every game that season, let alone score 22 goals and finish one off Jamie Vardy in the top scorers' ranks.

His form even earned him a recall to the England set-up in late 2020, and he scored his sole Three Lions goal in a friendly against Wales.

Ings was a serviceable frontman for clubs chasing Europe in the Premier League, something many expected he would be back in his Burnley days. He ended up making 240 Premier League appearances, finishing his time at the level with Aston Villa and West Ham United.

Danny Ings is clubless now after leaving Sheffield United in the summer

Action Images

Now 34, Ings is still weighing up his next move. The frontman spent last season with Sheffield United in the Championship before leaving at the end of his short-term contract in the summer.

Reports during the summer had the veteran marksman linked with a move to Leicester City, who are looking to bounce back after consecutive relegations to League One. That move collapsed in mid-July, though.

The transfer window is over, but clubs are still able to bring in free agents. Ings was a late-window signing at Bramall Lane last summer, so he knows how to get up to speed without a pre-season.