Echo: Reds want Ince

Liverpool FC are closing in on a £4million deal to bring Blackpool's Tom Ince back to Anfield.

The Reds are in negotiations with the Seasiders and hope the prolific 20-year-old winger will become their first signing of the January transfer window.

Ince, who left LFC just 16 months ago for a compensation fee of £250,000, has already plundered 13 goals in the Championship so far this season.

Blackpool value Ince at around £6million but Liverpool would be able to get a significant discount as they secured a 35% sell-on clause.

Managing director Ian Ayre has also held talks with Chelsea over a potential £12million swoop for striker Daniel Sturridge. However, the ECHO understands that the Ince transfer is closer to being finalised.

Ince spent eight years at Liverpool's Kirkby Academy as he looked to follow in the footsteps of his father Paul, who played for the Reds between 1997 and 1999.

He was handed his first team debut by Roy Hodgson when he came off the bench in the League Cup defeat to Northampton Town at Anfield in September 2010.

However, that proved to be his only senior appearance. A spell on loan at Notts County followed and frustrated at his lack of opportunities Ince rejected Liverpool's offer of a new contract.

Free to sign for another club, he joined Blackpool in August 2011 with the Reds only receiving a nominal development fee.

Ince has proved a huge hit at Bloomfield Road - playing a key role in their progress to last season's play-off final at Wembley where he scored in their defeat to West Ham.

The left-footer has blossomed playing on the right flank, cutting inside to wreak havoc, but he's equally at home on the opposite wing or in a central role behind the striker.

Liverpool have had the England Under-21 international watched repeatedly this season and the scouting reports have been glowing.

Blessed with great pace and skill, he has also demonstrated remarkable composure and intelligence in the final third.

Now regarded as one of the best young talents in the country, he has netted 19 league goals in 41 league starts for Blackpool.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is desperate to add goals to his squad and Ince fits the profile he's looking for.

Young, hungry, versatile and a creative force, Rodgers will be hoping that talks with Blackpool reach a swift conclusion so Ince becomes a Liverpool player when the window opens on January 1.

Eyebrows will be raised at the prospect of the Reds shelling out £4million for someone who walked away from the club only 16 months ago.

However, this is now a different regime at Anfield and there is a sense they would be putting right the mistake of losing him in the first place.

What's clear is that Ince has flourished from the experience he has enjoyed since dropping down into the Championship.

Rodgers is also keen on securing the services of Sturridge from Chelsea as he looks to ease the burden on top scorer Luis Suarez.

The Uruguayan has been operating as the Reds' only fit senior striker since Fabio Borini fractured his foot in October.

The Londoners are happy to listen to offers for 23-year-old Sturridge, who is surplus to requirements in the capital and is available for around £12million.

He came close to making the switch to Anfield back in August but rejected a loan deal as he was only interested in a permanent move.

Sturridge hasn't played for a month due to a hamstring injury but is now back in training and negotiations with Chelsea are continuing.

A product of Manchester City's Academy, Birmingham-born Sturridge signed for Chelsea for a £3.5million compensation fee in 2009 after his contract at Eastlands expired.

He enjoyed a successful loan spell at Bolton during the second half of the 2010/11 season when he scored eight goals in 12 appearances.

Sturridge, who could play through the middle or out wide in the three-pronged attack favoured by Rodgers, has found his opportunities limited at Stamford Bridge, but he boasts a highly respectable scoring record of 24 goals in 49 starts in all competitions.

Source: Liverpool Echo