Curtis Jones edges closer to Anfield exit as Inter Milan increases bid
Inter Milan’s pursuit of Curtis Jones has moved from polite interest to quiet expectation, with the Italian champions increasingly convinced they will get their man – and the midfielder prepared to push if that’s what it takes.
Inter have tracked Jones since January, testing Liverpool’s resolve more than once and refusing to step away even after seeing offers knocked back. Their latest bid, around €25million, went the same way as the others: rejected.
At that point, Inter sources were adamant they would not go any higher for a player entering the final 12 months of his deal. That line has started to blur.
Numbers, pressure and a shifting stance
Inter’s negotiators have stayed in the game through intermediaries, who have kept dialogue open and are now working on a new package in the region of €30million in an attempt to finally crack Liverpool’s resistance.
Liverpool have held a firmer valuation throughout. Inside Anfield, Jones has been pegged closer to €35million / £30million – a figure they believe still represents strong value in the current Premier League market.
Yet the mood music is changing. There is growing confidence among those close to the talks that Liverpool’s stance could soften if the structure and timing of the deal fall into place. The pressure, slowly but surely, is beginning to tell.
Iraola’s dilemma: admire or move on
New head coach Andoni Iraola finds himself at the heart of the decision. He is a genuine admirer of Jones, values his versatility and homegrown status, and would prefer to keep the academy graduate as part of his first Liverpool squad.
But Iraola is also a pragmatist. Those familiar with the internal discussions say he has been clear: if Jones is going to be sold, it must be done early. He does not want a key squad question hanging over the final weeks of the window, when plans should be sharpening, not unravelling.
Jones, for his part, is understood to be open to joining Inter. Contract talks with Liverpool are not active, and that silence only amplifies the feeling that this summer may be the right time for both sides to cut the cord.
A flashpoint in pre-season
The midfielder’s situation came under a harsher spotlight after Liverpool’s recent pre-season win over Wrexham, when what should have been a routine warm-up game ended with an unexpected talking point.
Sources close to the club acknowledge there was an on-field disagreement involving Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai and Kostas Tsimikas after the final whistle. The exact trigger remains unclear, but the flashpoint centred on the captain’s armband.
Jones was left frustrated when Szoboszlai, upon being substituted, passed the armband to Tsimikas instead of to him. It was a small gesture, but in a summer already clouded by uncertainty over his future, it landed heavily.
Liverpool insist the incident is not being treated as a major issue in the dressing room. No formal fallout, no disciplinary drama. Still, it has inevitably added another layer of intrigue around a player whose next move is already under intense scrutiny.
Inter sense their moment
From Milan’s perspective, the timing could hardly be better. With contract talks dormant, a valuation that might soon be negotiable, and the player open to a new challenge, Inter believe the pieces are beginning to align.
They have already made one headline Premier League capture in John Stones. Now they are pushing to bring in a second England international before the market descends into late-window chaos.
If Liverpool relent and Inter’s new offer hits the right notes, Curtis Jones could soon be trading Anfield red for the black and blue of San Siro. The question now is not whether Inter want him enough – it is how long Liverpool can keep saying no.
