Everton boss Frank Lampard is coy over interest in Aston Villa striker Danny Ings.

Ings is being linked with the Blues this week.

He said: “I am not talking about Danny Ings, but both options you mentioned there, loan, obligation or buying players, all things are on the table.

“I am never going to sit here and talk about finances because it is not my strength to give you the detail enough on that, but we want to improve the squad in January.

"We want to help the squad in January, but my job first and foremost has to be working with the players we have here, and how we get a result against Manchester United or Southampton.

“If we can improve the squad then great. But it is not an easy window, and everybody knows that, but we will try to improve it because everybody knows that for sure."

The Everton boss then added: “I don't know any other clubs' situation, but the context of it is probably a post-World Cup transfer window

“Maybe some agents and players, there are a lot of different things that come into play in this window, all the things you just mentioned there, it is a good point.

“People from the outside might look at it and say why aren't you doing this but we have to look at the best solution and the most viable solution.

“And from my point of view, I want them solutions, it will help me become a better manager and it will help us have more competition and get results we haven't been able to get.

“Those are the rules of football and the importance of recruitment. So there is no coming away from it being a huge deal for us.

“We have maybe seen in previous times we have made decisions like that that haven't gone right, and they can also have a negative effect. We have to be balanced about it."