Serie A giants Inter Milan have renewed their interest in Curtis Jones and have contacted Liverpool over a potential £30m deal.
However, that figure remains below the Reds’ £35m valuation of the midfielder. Jones has entered the final year of his contract at Anfield and has been a long-term target for Inter.
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The Italian club first opened talks in January but were told Liverpool had no intention of losing players during the winter window.
Inter previously saw a £21m offer rejected, with Liverpool feeling there was a significant gap between the two clubs’ valuations. However, intermediaries have now made fresh contact and indicated Inter’s willingness to increase their offer.
According to the Guardian, Inter are prepared to go as high as €35m for Jones. Whether Liverpool accept that sum is doubtful, but a deal for Jones to leave his boyhood club does appear to be edging closer.
Jones has racked up 228 appearances since his Liverpool debut in January 2019 but is seeking more regular first-team opportunities.
New Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has highlighted the importance of keeping Jones and maintaining a local identity at the start of his reign.
However, Inter’s determination to sign the England international, combined with the possibility of losing him for free next summer, could test Liverpool’s resolve.
Iraola said earlier this month that he hopes to keep Jones at Anfield and extend his contract on Merseyside. The former Bournemouth boss said: “I will have the chance to speak with him today.
“I rate Curtis very highly. For me he is a great, great player and I hope he can continue with us and continue performing the way he has been performing.
“It’s very important that he’s scouse, that he’s from here. I also like the personality. From the outside at least he looks like a player with good character and I hope we can keep him, not only for this year but for more time.”