Burnley boss Sean Dyche has reiterated that Danny Ings will not be sold this month and believes that his performances will improve once the transfer window closes.
Ings has been linked with a switch to Liverpool in recent days, speculation that Dyche claims is the reason behind his off-day in the Clarets' 2-0 defeat to Sunderland on Saturday.
"The truth is I thought his performance was a little bit off today because of that," he told reporters.
"He has been terrific, but I thought it affected him and I thought I'd get him off and give him a break.
"But Danny Ings will be a Burnley player next week and I'm fed up saying it. In another couple of days all that nonsense shuts off, so then I think the freedom will come back."
The 22-year-old, whose Turf Moor contract expires in the summer, has netted seven Premier League goals this season, including three in his last five outings.