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Liverpool’s to-do list this summer is as long as it is complicated.
There has been talk of winger reinforcements and added defensive depth, but the midfield situation is likewise bubbling in the background.
The situation with Alexis Mac Allister remains unresolved. The Argentine’s contract runs until 2028, yet there is no movement whatsoever on an extension.
His father and agent Carlos Mac Allister has been blunt on the matter, telling WinWin: “There are no negotiations with Liverpool to renew the contract.”
Real Madrid have been hovering in the background for some time, and with no talks on the horizon, that particular saga is unlikely to go away quietly.
Then there is Dominic Szoboszlai. The Hungarian has been in discussions with the club over a new deal, but no breakthrough has been reached as of yet
Liverpool will be hoping to get that one over the line sooner rather than later
That brings us to Curtis Jones, arguably the most complicated contract situation of the lot.
Inter Milan have now had two offers firmly rejected by Liverpool this summer.
The Italian champions first came knocking in January with a loan-to-buy proposal, which was quickly dismissed.
Their second verbal bid, worth £21.7 million, was knocked back just as swiftly – falling well short of Liverpool’s £35 million valuation.
Lewis Steele of the Daily Mail has reported that the Anfield club are prepared to let Curtis Jones leave for nothing next summer when his deal expires unless their £35m valuation is met:
“Liverpool are holding out for £35m for Curtis Jones after rejecting a £21m bid from Inter Milan. They are prepared to let him run down his contract and risk losing him on a free next summer. No talks are active over a new deal but he is set to stay – unless a club stumps up that cash.”
That would be a damaging outcome for the club. And not just in sentiment, but financially.
As an academy graduate, Jones represents pure profit on Liverpool’s books under Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules. Letting him walk for nothing would be a costly miss in more ways than one.