Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has refused to throw in the towel in his pursuit of Blackpool's Thomas Ince, according to the
Mirror. The Anfield club desperately tried to sign the forward during the January transfer window, but their pursuits of the player proved fruitless and the player himself now fears any chance of a return to the club where he began his professional career as a youth team player has gone. Liverpool balked at the £6 million asking price by the Championship club in January, and were dismayed by the valuation considering the player only had 12 months left to run on his contract at the time. That has led the England Under-21 international to express concerns he will be denied his dream return to Merseyside. Rodgers however remains more hopeful that a deal can still be reached. He is reported to believe a bid of £4 million in the summer will be enough to persuade the Seasiders to sell up. Ince could have avoided the heartache of missing out on a move to Liverpool in January. Having spent three years at Liverpool, he refused a new contract and was subsequently sold to Blackpool 18 months ago. However, that move appears to have been the making of him. England recognition was followed by him being awarded the Football League's Young Player of the Year trophy last Sunday, following a successful season that has seen him score 19 times in 36 appearances for the Seasiders. Of the potential move to Liverpool, Ince remarked:
"There was something about Liverpool coming in for me in January - and to go to a top club like that would have been fantastic - but I have to realise, it's about playing football and I don't think any of the moves were close. "It's great having that speculation and it's very flattering. To have teams of that magnitude saying you're a decent player, it gives me a smile and flatters me a lot. "For me though it's about putting my faith in Blackpool because without that club, my team-mates and the fans I wouldn't be Football League Young Player of the Year and the player I am now. "My dream is to play at the top level and to achieve my ambitions, but it's all about timing and patience, so when you get to the top you are ready to go and not jumping too soon."