Arne Slot confirms it's game over for Curtis Jones

Tottenham came forward with interest for Curtis Jones during the January transfer window.

And Spurs’ desire to land the Liverpool playmaker was matched by Inter Milan - who lined Jones up for a loan deal with a view to a permanent move.

Richard Hughes - Liverpool’s sporting director - rejected attempts to sign Jones out of hand and Arne Slot declared that the club were not seeking to weaken their squad.

However Spurs, Inter - and potentially a few more Premier League clubs - have seen their chance to pounce. And with good reason.

No new contract in sight for Jones

Jones last signed a Liverpool contract extension back in 2022. He was very much a squad player under Jurgen Klopp and the terms of that deal are thought to reflect that status.

While the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch are commanding big wages - and looking for even more - Jones is certainly not among Liverpool’s top band of earners.

And this creates an issue - one that needs to be resolved fast.

The England midfielder is out of contract in 2027 and time is running out to come to terms with the club over a new deal. Given his status as a two-time Premier League winner - and his consistent performances - Jones is entitled to ask for his demands to be met.

Clearly however Hughes and his FSG higher-ups are not prepared to meet those demands - otherwise a deal would surely have been announced by now.

That’s what makes Spurs and Inter approaching the Premier League champions for the midfield schemer so interesting. It suggests that the Reds may be open to a deal if the terms were right.

Next summer will be their final chance to cash in on Jones - and we could expect a significant transfer clamour for his signature.

Arne Slot doesn't trust Jones anymore

A new complication has been added in by Slot’s recent reluctance to use him from the start. Liverpool’s upturn in form from around the beginning of December coincided with Jones coming into the team from the outset.

But that run ground to a halt in the game away at Arsenal at the start of January - when he didn’t even get off the bench. Jones’ last start in the Premier League came against Burnley on January 17 - and it’s clear that Slot won’t trust him in the biggest matches.

He’s been demoted for games against not only Arsenal and Manchester City but also Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United.

The player is entitled to take a look around and ask himself whether he is worth better treatment.

Jones exit looks inevitable after latest Slot snub

And so this saga may be reaching an inevitable conclusion. Liverpool can’t get to sign a new deal on their preferred terms - and therefore a sale could materialise considering he has only one year left on his deal.

Slot doesn’t fancy him in the biggest matches - and therefore wouldn’t consider him an undroppable player. And Jones might well consider a different club - one that will give him a consistent platform to show his talents week in and week out.

It would be a big blow to lose another homegrown player - the only Scouser in the Liverpool team. But things are not working out right now for Jones - as his current plight proves.

Don’t be surprised if all parties come to the same conclusion in the summer transfer window.

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