Lazio have officially announced the signing of Davide Frattesi from Inter Milan.
The Italian midfielder has joined on an initial loan worth €1 million.
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The move includes a buy option of €14 million, which becomes mandatory depending on Frattesi’s number of appearances or Lazio’s final position in Serie A.
Inter have inserted a 50% sell-on clause into the agreement, meaning the club would receive half of any profit if Lazio sell Frattesi on in the future.
The structure allows Inter to offload a squad player without a permanent sale this summer, while giving Lazio the chance to sign him outright only if certain conditions are met during the season.
Via their official website, the club announced:
“S.S. Lazio announces that it has acquired on a temporary basis, with the right of option for the definitive purchase, the right to the sports performance of the player Davide Frattesi from F.C. Internazionale.”
Frattesi has struggled for regular minutes at Inter, prompting the club to explore options for his departure.
A move to Lazio would keep him in Serie A and give him a route back into regular first-team football.
The deal also has wider implications for Inter’s transfer plans.
Inter’s interest in Jones dates back to January, when the two clubs discussed a possible loan move before talks stalled.
Since the summer window opened, Inter have returned with a series of bids that Liverpool have consistently rejected.
A £21 million offer was turned down in June, followed by a €25 million verbal proposal relayed that also fell short.
Inter then raised their approach to £30 million, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, and later to €32 million, both dismissed by Liverpool “out of hand.”
Liverpool had been holding out for around €40 million. That gap has since narrowed.
The Athletic reported that Inter indicated through intermediaries they would pay €35 million, and Fabrizio Romano has since said Liverpool have “slightly lowered their request” to match that figure.
Jones is in the final year of his contract at Anfield and has turned down a new deal despite head coach Andoni Iraola publicly backing him to stay.
Freeing up space through the Davide Frattesi move to Lazio is seen as a key factor in advancing Inter’s efforts to finally get a Jones deal over the line.