Curtis Jones Chooses Inter Milan: Liverpool's Valuation Challenge
Curtis Jones has made his choice. Now Liverpool and Inter Milan have to find a way to make the numbers match.
The 25-year-old midfielder has committed to joining the Serie A champions, with talks between the clubs ongoing as they try to close a stubborn valuation gap. For Jones, the decision is made: his Anfield chapter is ending, and the next one is meant to be written at San Siro.
Jones picks Inter – and a new life
Interest from the Premier League has been real and persistent. Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest have all checked in on his availability in recent months, sensing an opportunity around a player entering the final year of his deal.
They have been told, effectively, not to bother.
Jones has informed those close to him that Inter is his preferred destination. He wants a new country, a new league, a new rhythm to his career. It would be his first move abroad and, in his eyes, the ideal next step after accepting that his time on Merseyside is drawing to a close.
The commitment from the player is there. The agreement between the clubs is not.
A €5m stand-off
Inter have put roughly €25m (£21m) on the table. Liverpool are holding out for closer to €30m (£25m), a figure they believe reflects Jones’ quality and experience despite his contract ticking down.
From Inter’s side, the logic is simple: a player in the final year of his deal should not command top dollar. They feel Liverpool’s hand is weaker than the price suggests and are reluctant to move significantly from their current offer.
Liverpool see it very differently.
The club has already watched Ibrahima Konate and Trent Alexander-Arnold walk away for nothing in the last 12 months. Internally, there is a clear determination not to repeat that pattern with another player who still holds strong market value.
So they push. Not for a fantasy fee, but for something closer to their valuation, even if compromise will almost certainly be needed to get the deal over the line.
Chiesa’s seal of approval
Inside the dressing room, the pull towards Italy has grown stronger thanks to Federico Chiesa.
The former Juventus forward, now a teammate of Jones, has painted an appealing picture of life in Serie A and in Italy in general. Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Chiesa revealed that Jones had asked him what to expect.
“I told him it’s great and the weather is better than Liverpool, which, aside from that, is a special place,” Chiesa said. “Jones is really strong technically. Inter are right to think about him.”
Those words do more than flatter a colleague. They mirror a wider feeling that Jones’ future is now aligned with Inter’s midfield, that this is a move gathering momentum rather than a tentative flirtation.
Liverpool brace for change
Inside Liverpool, there is a recognition that this is not the battle to die on. In an ideal world, Jones might have been tied down earlier in his career, his potential harnessed for the long term. The reality is different: the player wants a new challenge, and the club is already building for a new era.
Under Andoni Iraola, plans for the midfield are well advanced. Liverpool have been assessing reinforcements as part of a broader squad rebuild, aware that exits like Jones’ are part of the transition rather than an unexpected shock.
Talks with Inter continue, and there is optimism on all sides that a compromise can be found. The gap is clear. So is the will to close it.
For Jones, the path is equally clear. From Merseyside to Milan, from Anfield nights to San Siro lights, he is ready to become the latest English player to test himself in Serie A. The only question now is how long Liverpool and Inter want to stare at that €5m difference before they finally blink.
