Curtis Jones has been heavily linked with a summer move to Serie A champions Inter Milan, and now journalist James Pearce has given a new update.
The 25-year-old’s Reds future is very much up in the air, with the midfielder potentially looking for a new challenge at an important point in his career.
Inter have emerged as comfortably the leading option for Jones in recent months, with the Italian giants seeing him as an important part of their plans.
Now, according to The Athletic‘s Pearce, Liverpool “do not want to lose Jones” this summer, not least because he is the “only Scouser in the team”, but they will “reluctantly sanction a sale if he asks for a move and a suitable offer is on the table.”
The boyhood Liverpool fan is “valued at around £35million” by the Merseysiders, while Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio recently admitted that Jones is a genuine option this summer:
“Curtis Jones, we are paying attention to him. We didn’t hide. We understand what the developments will be.”
Liverpool must keep hold of “complete” Curtis Jones this summer
Jones has so many attributes, from retaining possession to tactical intelligence, with former Liverpool head coach Arne Slot hailing him during their time working together:
“He is never afraid to do something special with it, but sometimes he touches the ball a bit too much in my opinion because he is so confident.But confidence is an important tool. He has an incredibly hard work rate and we trust him in defence. He is complete. For him now, it is all about consistency. The best players turn up every three days and that is what he has got to show.”
It is understandable why Jones’ head has been turned by a move to Inter, allowing him to shine in a different league and be a consistent starter, which hasn’t been the case at Liverpool.
But hopefully, Andoni Iraola can sell the idea of him staying put with the Reds to Jones, telling him that he will feature prominently moving forward.
It is a tough situation to predict, but as things stand, Jones arguably feels more likely to depart Liverpool than stay, which would be a huge shame.