Why Inter’s Curtis Jones bid still falls short of Liverpool’s number
Inter Milan have never been shy about identifying value in the market, and their renewed interest in Curtis Jones fits a pattern we have seen from them before. According to Caught Offside, the Serie A champions are ramping up their pursuit of Jones and sense they can get a deal done for less than Liverpool are willing to accept.
The figures involved are not far apart at all. Inter are said to be prepared to go as high as around €35m, with Liverpool holding out for something closer to €40m. In the context of the modern market that is a fairly small gap, the sort that usually gets bridged through structured payments, add-ons or a sell-on clause rather than one side simply capitulating.
The football case for Inter’s interest
It is not hard to see the appeal from Inter’s side. Jones offers energy, comfort in possession under pressure and the versatility to slot into more than one midfield role, all qualities that matter if Davide Frattesi ends up leaving the club. He also arrives with Premier League experience, which tends to carry weight with clubs assessing whether a player can cope with the physical and mental demands of a top level side.
From Liverpool’s side, there is an obvious reluctance to let an academy graduate go, particularly one who Andoni Iraola clearly rates. Homegrown players carry a different kind of value at this club, and Jones has the trust of the coaching staff behind him. Even so, once a player enters the final year of his contract, sentiment alone rarely settles these situations. The choice generally comes down to renewing, cashing in, or watching your leverage drain away over the following year.
Other suitors add pressure to the timeline
Inter’s urgency looks partly explained by the competition circling. Tottenham have been credited with interest, Nottingham Forest have been mentioned, and Arsenal’s name has also come up. That matters because Premier League clubs are typically better positioned financially to meet Liverpool’s valuation, and any sign of stronger domestic competition tends to harden Liverpool’s stance in a negotiation rather than soften it.
Right now this looks like a transfer standoff shaped almost entirely by timing and valuation rather than any fundamental disagreement over whether the deal makes sense. A €35m offer is close enough to be taken seriously, but close is not the same as accepted. If Inter genuinely want Jones this summer, the more likely path is meeting Liverpool’s number rather than waiting for the gap to close on its own.
Our take
This is the sort of situation that should frustrate Liverpool supporters, not because losing Jones would be catastrophic, but because it feels avoidable. He is not a fringe squad player being moved on for convenience. He is homegrown, understands exactly what the club expects of him, and provides midfield depth that is genuinely difficult to replace once you start looking at what else is available in this market at £30m and upwards.
If his contract really is running down without progress on an extension, that is on the club rather than the player, and it is exactly the kind of situation that invites offers like Inter’s. You either commit to a player like this well in advance or you sell from a position of strength while his value is still rising, not drift toward the final year and let another club sense an opening.
There is a footballing argument here too. Iraola is going to need energy, tactical flexibility and reliable depth across midfield, and Jones ticks all three boxes even if he is not guaranteed a regular starting berth. Not every useful squad player has to be a nailed on starter. If Inter want him, they should have to pay what he is worth. If they will not, Liverpool should be entirely comfortable keeping him around, using him properly and getting a new contract sorted rather than letting this drag into another distraction.