Paul Ince believes his son Thomas should reject a return to Liverpool in order to maintain first-team football at Blackpool.

Goal.com exclusively revealed last weekend that Brendan Rodgers’ side are close to securing a deal for the 20-year-old but the former England international believes his son would benefit from staying at Bloomfield Road.

“There’s been a lot of press saying he’s going to Liverpool. I’ve not at one time said he’s going to Liverpool,” the 45-year-old told Sky Sports News.

“Thomas has at not one time said he wants to leave Blackpool Football Club. I just feel that he’s ready for the Premiership, whether that means he’s going to go in January or that means he’s going to go at the end of the season or the season after, who knows?

“I think he’s ready to go and play in the Premiership, but there’s no point in Thomas going to a Premiership club and not playing football, because that will just stunt his development.

“Where he goes, he has to have the chance to be involved and getting game time.

“If you said Liverpool, or Man United or Barcelona, there’s no point in him going to those clubs if he’s not playing football. For me, he might as well stay at Blackpool and keep playing week in and week out.”