The Curtis Jones transfer saga has taken another twist, and this time the frustration in Liverpool’s boardroom is not about the fee.
It is about the process.
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According to journalist Ben Jacobs, speaking on talkSPORT alongside Shaun Custis and Henry Winter, Liverpool’s growing irritation stems from the manner in which Inter Milan have been conducting their pursuit of the academy graduate.
Rather than approaching the club with a formal offer, Inter’s overtures have arrived through intermediaries, a pattern Liverpool are increasingly unwilling to entertain as the summer window progresses.
“Inter are pushing for Curtis Jones,” Jacobs explained.
“They made an offer, in inverted commas, although Liverpool don’t really see it as a formal bid, in the region of €35million, and that’s their third approach.”
“€32million and €25million were the other numbers.”
The gap between the two clubs remains substantial.
Liverpool are holding out for a minimum of €40 million, with some reports suggesting figures closer to €50 million given the inflated nature of the current market.
Jones himself, according to Jacobs, would welcome the move to Inter, but Liverpool’s stance on how the negotiation should be conducted has hardened.
“My sense is Inter will be back and Liverpool are a bit frustrated by this because they don’t want it through intermediaries anymore,” Jacobs said.
“The perspective of the club, according to my info, is if Inter want Curtis Jones, a bit like Bruno Guimaraes, Newcastle-Arsenal, knock on our front door, make us a formal offer and then you might find a financial compromise.”
The situation has been complicated further by an incident that has nothing to do with the transfer figures at all.
Jones was involved in a heated exchange with teammate Dominik Szoboszlai following Liverpool’s pre-season win over Wrexham in New York, with Kostas Tsimikas and Jeremie Frimpong stepping in to defuse tensions.
The disagreement appeared to stem from the captain’s armband being passed to Tsimikas rather than Jones after Szoboszlai was substituted.
Peterborough owner and Liverpool supporter Darragh MacAnthony did not hold back in his assessment of the incident, telling talkSPORT, “He’s acting like a spoilt brat.”
“That behaviour can’t happen, not from a graduate from the academy, he’s too into himself.”
Yet Jacobs suggests the incident has not fundamentally altered Liverpool’s willingness to keep Jones if Inter fail to formalise their approach.
“Andoni Iraola’s said that he likes Curtis Jones, and despite the bust up you mentioned, Liverpool are not averse to offering Jones a new deal if he stays.”
With Jones entering the final year of his contract and available on a free transfer next summer if no resolution is reached, Liverpool’s patience has limits.
But for now, the message from Anfield is clear.
A serious offer, not another indirect approach, is what will move this deal forward.
“This is going to be one to watch in the month of August,” Jacobs concluded.