Liverpool make contact with Inter Milan over midfielder deal

Liverpool fans were left shocked during the January transfer window when it appeared the club were prepared to listen to offers for Curtis Jones.

The midfielder, 24, was linked with Tottenham even after the London club picked up Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid. That suggested that the Premier League champions were potentially alive to the potential of an outbound deal.

And the strongest interest materialised from Italy - where Inter came forward with a bid for the playmaker’s services.

It was reported that Inter were prepared to offer a six-month loan deal with a view to a permanent deal next summer. But the proposal fell apart - with Liverpool reporters suggesting that no more weakening of the squad would be taking place.

Liverpool offered Curtis Jones to Inter?

Italian reporters on the other hand told a different story - that Jones’ refusal to sign a one-year contract extension before going on loan had scuppered the agreement.

The key issues around Jones for Liverpool and sporting director Richard Hughes is that he is out of contract in 2027. If he were to move on loan then he would be returning with only one year left on his deal - potentially reducing his asking price.

It would of course have made a lot of sense for the Reds to contract Jones for another 12 months to keep his value high. Either way the deal reached a sticking point which saw Jones remain a Liverpool player beyond deadline day.

Whether Inter come back in summer and attempt to try again remains to be seen - but Corriere dello Sport has now made a key claim to the story.

The trusted Italian daily states that it was Liverpool - and not Inter - who began contact over the deal initially.

Curtis Jones' deal expires in 2027

And once it became apparent that the contract would be an issue the Reds pulled out.

“There was also the possibility of a surprise signing, namely Jones from Liverpool,” the report reads.

“It was the Reds themselves who proposed the deal (on loan) to Inter, who promptly reached an agreement with the player.

“However, the English club themselves backed out: the contract expiring in 2027 was a complication, but the fear of weakening the squad also played a role.”

Jones is not one of the top earners at Liverpool having signed his last deal back in 2022 when he was still a squad player under Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool uncertain to meet Jones contract demands

He grew in stature last season during the title win and has gone to another level this term in difficult circumstances. It’s understandable that Jones would like a significant pay rise in order to remain with his boyhood club.

Right now it’s not certain that the club are ready to meet those demands.

So where does that leave us?

Liverpool will be dead against repeating the failures which saw Trent Alexander-Arnold leave for only £10m last summer - only a month from the end of his contract.

Jones won’t be permitted to see out his contract and leave on a free in 2027.

So unless he renews we could see him come back into transfer focus next summer - and Liverpool may well try the market once again to see if they can find an interested buyer.

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