Andoni Iraola blown away by 19-year-old midfielder to replace Curtis Jones

Curtis Jones has left Liverpool.

The 25-year-old midfielder joins Inter Milan for a fee that could reach £30m - with Jones signing a five-year deal with the Serie A giants.

His departure leaves new coach Andoni Iraola somewhat light in the midfield sector. It is expected that Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch will once again form the backbone of the Merseysiders’ midfield this season.

Liverpool linked with incoming midfielder deal

Beyond the first-choice trio - and reserve Wataru Endo - the options are pretty light. Stefan Bajcetic looks likely to leave for Celta Vigo and James McConnell could also be heading out albeit on loan.

Fans worried about midfield depth could be forgiven for crying out for midfield signings. But Iraola is content to take his chances with an inexperienced midfielder to make up his Liverpool midfield quota.

Because a report in TEAMtalk is claiming that the Basque tactico has been BLOWN AWAY by the performances of Trey Nyoni in preseason.

Trey Nyoni to replace Curtis Jones

And therefore the 44-year-old has got no qualms about plunging the 19-year-old in at the deep end for the Anfield side this season.

“Liverpool are ready to thrust teenager Trey Nyoni into their first-team plans this season following the £30m departure of Curtis Jones to Inter Milan, with the midfielder’s emergence a major reason why the Reds are not looking to make another central midfield signing,” the report reads.

“Nyoni enjoyed an outstanding pre-season and has convinced new head coach Andoni Iraola that he is ready to move beyond being viewed simply as an academy prospect.”

Nyoni ends all talk about loan deal away

Nyoni joined Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp back in 2023 going on to make his first-team debut aged only 16. The former Leicester youth has had to bide his time since then - barely totalling 20 Premier League minutes last season under Arne Slot.

Opportunities are set to come his way this season following a fresh contract last year - and all talk about a potential loan deal away has now been put on hold.

“Then in comes Nyoni and he has blown Iraola away, they firmly believe he is first-team ready and can compete with the likes of Szoboszlai, Gravenberch and Mac Allister – they really see that as a midfield four and they even have Endo still around,” TEAMtalk transfer insider Graeme Bailey writes.