Andoni Iraola all in on €30m midfielder

Liverpool have been reported to be seeking a big midfield shakeup this summer.

Among the players tipped for an exit have been Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones.

Mac Allister, 27, is currently at the FIFA World Cup defending his title with Argentina but is in somewhat of a contract limbo with his club side.

He is under contract until 2028 but has admitted there has been no talk over a new deal. Given the No10’s transfer value will only head south the longer his contract goes on it would be no surprise to hear of the Reds listening to bids this summer.

And Curtis Jones only a few days ago appeared on the brink of a move to Inter Milan. Jones, 25, has a more alarming contract situation than Mac Allister because his deal is due to expire in 2027.

If no deal is reached then he will be walking out the door for free next summer.

Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has been content to listen to interest from Inter about the Scouse playmaker - who could not find a starting midfield role on a consistent basis under Arne Slot.

Inter cannot meet Jones demands

But the Italian champions keep coming up short in negotiations. Liverpool want around €30m and Inter thus far have only got to around €20m.

And the longer the transfer saga plays out the more secure Jones can be about winning his place under Andoni Iraola.

Because a report in the Athletic is claiming that the homegrown midfielder is set to take a big step forward in preseason with midfield rivals like Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch at the FIFA World Cup.

He wasn’t selected by England and therefore has a headstart in getting to work for his new club manager.

Not only can Jones set about gaining minutes in friendlies he will also be able to stake a claim under the 43-year-old Spaniard that he is worth keeping around.

Jones could get a prominent role under Iraola in preseason

“Jones is an interesting case given how he was used over the second half of last season, his contract situation — he is entering the final 12 months of his deal — and the interest from Serie A side Inter,” the report reads.

“With other central midfielders at the World Cup, he is set to feature heavily in friendlies and, if Iraola envisages him having a prominent role, it could influence how his future at the club plays out.”

We could see a Jones U-turn

Jones got into the team towards the end of the season - albeit at right-back. Without first-team football in his preferred position it’s understandable that he would be stalling on a new deal.

Obviously Liverpool won’t want to lose him for free and in an ideal world the club will retain their best homegrown talents.

And having come within a whisker of leaving - in Janaury as well as this summer - we could be about to see Jones pull off a massive transfer U-turn and stay with his boyhood club.

His destiny is back in his own hands.

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