Manchester City keen on capturing Clarets striker Danny Ings

Manchester City will aim to secure the signing of Burnley’s star striker Danny Ings next summer, with the in-form forward available on a free transfer.

Manuel Pellegrini’s reigning Premier League champions, 4/1 with Coral to retain the title, are reportedly keen to bolster the amount of homegrown players in their ranks ahead of next season, with Ings a prime target.

Sean Dyche’s deadly attacker has been crucial to the Clarets in their bid to avoid relegation this season, netting an important seven goals in his 22 appearances.

With his contract set to expire at Turf Moor, a host of top-flight teams have been circling for the clinical centre-forward’s signature, including Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool, who were warned off a move for the striker in January.

The Reds tried lure the 22-year-old to Anfield in a pre-contract agreement, with Ings being offered back to Turf Moor on loan, but such a move wasn’t permitted under any Premier League rules.

Title-chasing City are trailing Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea in this domestic league campaign and are hoping to stock up on homegrown players, with former Blues midfielder Frank Lampard set to depart in the summer.

James Milner could also join Lampard in leaving the the Etihad at the end of the season, after stumbling down his team’s pecking order behind other star midfield names such as Jesus Navas and David Silva.

As well as Ings being a top homegrown acquisition, the potent poacher could provide a wealth of attacking prowess to the blue half of Manchester, with current forwards Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic having struggled for form this term, and consistently being linked with moves away from the Etihad, with this looking likely in the summer.

Burnley’s brilliant marksman has shown great potential in his first campaign in England’s top-flight, after helping the Clarets to promotion from the Championship with an incredible 26 goals in 45 outings.