Everton have bid for ex-Liverpool striker rejected

Everton have had a loan bid for Aston Villa striker Danny Ings rejected, according to new reports.

Frank Lampard's side are keen to recruit a forward in the January transfer window, having scored just 14 goals in 18 Premier League games this season.

Results elsewhere last night meant the Toffees ended the day in the bottom three on goal difference, with West Ham ahead of them in 17th.

Lampard is, as per talkSPORT, under pressure to keep his job at Goodison Park, his side having won only one of their last 10 league games.

They have failed to replace the goalscoring output of Richarlison, who played a vital role in keeping Everton up last season with 10 goals before moving on to Tottenham.

They paid an initial £12 million to sign Neal Maupay from Brighton, but he has failed to hit the ground running, scoring only one league goal in 13 matches.

Now, they have turned their attentions to another Premier League forward.

Everton interested in ex-Liverpool striker Danny Ings

According to Daily Mail reporter Dominic King, Everton have had a loan offer for Danny Ings rejected by Villa.

He claims that Unai Emery's side would allow the England international to leave, but only if the loan deal included an option to buy on a permanent deal at the end of the season.

Ings has netted six goals in 17 league appearances this season, but has not started a game for Villa since before the World Cup break.

He did score in Wednesday's 1-1 draw against Wolves, salvaging a point for the Villans. Ings has two braces to his name this term - against Brighton and Brentford - and also found the net in his side's 2-1 win over Everton early in the season.

Speaking after last night's clash against Wolves, Emery refuted reports that Villa were prepared to allow the former Liverpool striker to leave.

He said (quotes via Express & Star): "I spoke with some players about the opportunity to leave, but not with him [Ings].

"Today I think the first player who leaves is Cameron Archer [set to join Middlesbrough on loan], but I didn't speak to Danny about it. The idea is to keep him in the squad."