Breakthrough imminent: Club told £26m will secure deal for midfielder

It promises to be a summer of upheaval - once again at Anfield.

Big changes took place under sporting director Richard Hughes last summer. Deals worth £450m were concluded for incoming players while around £180m was clawed back in sales.

Those moves didn’t have the desired effect with Liverpool slumping from first to FIFTH in the Premier League.

Arne Slot didn’t survive his end-of-season review under Hughes and Michael Edwards and now Andoni Iraola is tasked with putting the Liverpool squad back on their perch.

Personnel changes are guaranteed. The outgoing champions want a winger - maybe two - and Yan Diomande is top of the list. The Anfield club could also do with fortifying the right-back position and need back-up to Alexander Isak up front.

Jones looks set to depart Liverpool midfield

Changes will come to the midfield too - with a couple of high-profile outgoings lined up. Alexis Mac Allister may be on his way with a contract expiring in 2028 and no agreement yet reached over a new deal.

Liverpool will be keen to avoid the Argentina international leaving on a free and need to watch out for his value dwindling down. The case of Curtis Jones is even more pressing.

The homegrown 25-year-old has only got one year left on his deal and unless things change he will be entitled to walk away for nothing in 2027.

Inter Milan come back in for Jones

That’s why bids are being considered by Liverpool’s decision-makers this summer - even if Iraola intends to give the midfielder a big role in preseason.

Inter Milan provide the clearest danger - having first come in with a bid for the England midfielder in January. That one was unsuccessful on the part of the Italian champions but now the Nerazzurri are coming back.

Talks this summer have already seen Inter reach around €20m in their bid for Jones - far beneath the €30m (£26m) Liverpool are reported to have quoted.

But now La Gazzetta dello Sport is reporting that Inter higher-ups are in the process of drawing up a new bid for Jones.

£26m will seal Curtis Jones deal

“A €30 million deal,” the report reads.

“That figure refers to the economic sum required to convince his club to release him.

“Inter's last offer was €20 million, but the club intends to retake that 'English test' that didn't go well in January, with a definitive new bid.”

It is understandable why Jones would be looking elsewhere for his opportunities. Although he featured in plenty of games for Arne Slot last season he was unable to win the Dutchman over as a starter in the midfield.

He had to contend himself with a bench role for large stretches of the league campaign - and only got in the team at the end of the season at right-back.

Inter would give him what he needs - an integral role in the centre of midfield and a sense of importance. All that remains now is for Inter to slide that final bid across Richard Hughes’ desk.

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