Liverpool reportedly have no intention of acquiring Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic or letting forward Danny Ings leave the club this summer. 

According to James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo, the former “isn’t on their list of targets” despite reports from Italy and interest in the Croatia international 12 months ago. Kovacic struggled for regular football in Spain during his first season at Real.

During his time with Inter Milan, the 22-year-old was extremely impressive. Here is a look at what he is capable of at his very best:

When the midfielder made the move from Milan to Madrid, there was a sense that he may not get the game time needed to flourish.

While adaptable in whether he can play in an advanced or deeper midfield positions, Kovacic always seemed to be down the pecking order. In the deeper roles, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos were preferred, while Isco and James Rodriguez battled for a No. 10 spot when the system catered to one.

There’s no denying Kovacic’s quality, though. As Fox Sports’ Keith Costigan noted recently, it’s tough for the player to show his best when he is on the bench at such a big club:

Liverpool wouldn’t be the right destination for the player at this time. Already, the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino are battling for spots behind the centre-forward, and according to Pearce, the Reds are also seeking to close out a deal for Udinese midfielder Piotr Zielinski. Kovacic would potentially find himself struggling for game time on Merseyside, too.

La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t David F. Sanchidrian of AS) reported Kovacic is close to joining Roma on a season-long loan. Should that go through, he’ll be handed a chance to replace Miralem Pjanic as the team’s key playmaker following his move to Juventus; that seems like an ideal stage to relaunch his career.

As for Ings, the Reds were said to be “baffled” by speculation linking him with a possible switch to Rangers. The former Burnley man endured a difficult first season at Anfield, with much of his campaign spent on the sideline after injury problems.

Pearce added that Ings will “compete with fellow strikers Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi for a starting role with Christian Benteke’s future still uncertain.”

Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe expects Ings to become one of Klopp’s main options in the forward positions next season along with the names mentioned and Firmino:

It’s easy to see why Reds manager Jurgen Klopp would love to have a player such as Ings in the squad. The England international showed during his debut term in the Premier League with Burnley that he has an infectious enthusiasm for the game and a willingness to work hard at the point of the attack.

Ings has already shown glimpses of goalscoring potential, too. He netted for the Reds against Everton in the Merseyside derby before injury struck, while he grabbed 11 for Burnley in 2014-15 before they were relegated.

Klopp evidently loves his teams to attack and will want as many goalscorers in his squad as possible. As we can see here, courtesy of Squawka Football, the Reds were the most effective team in front of goal at the end of the Premier League season:

Ings is a player who impressed the Liverpool supporters in the nascent stages of his career at Anfield, and once he gets up to full fitness again, he has all of the attributes required to become an effective part of Klopp’s plans. The forward is a player who a lot of fans will be keeping a close eye on in pre-season as he continues his recovery.

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