Inter's Chase for Curtis Jones Stalls Amid Liverpool's Firm Price
Inter Milan’s long courtship of Curtis Jones is running into a familiar problem: Liverpool have named their price, and they are not blinking.
The Serie A champions have admired the midfielder for months and saw an opportunity as he moves into the final year of his contract at Anfield. From Inter’s perspective, this should have been the perfect moment to strike – a 25-year-old with Premier League pedigree, edging towards free agency next summer, and a club seemingly open to a sale to avoid losing him for nothing.
It has not worked out that way.
A long pursuit hits a wall
Inter first tried to prise Jones away in January. The plan then was a loan with an option to buy, a classic Italian move: test the player, spread the cost, limit the risk. Liverpool’s response was blunt. No.
That rejection did not cool Inter’s interest. They stayed in contact, monitored the situation and returned to the table in recent weeks with a permanent offer. Their bid, €25 million (around £21.7m), reflects how they see Jones: a valuable piece, but not one to break their wage and fee structure for.
Liverpool see something else. They value him closer to £35m, a figure that speaks to his age, homegrown status and the belief that his best years are still ahead. For now, that gap looks too wide to bridge.
Ausilio spells it out
Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio has rarely hidden his admiration for Jones, and he did not start now. But this time, the message came with a dose of realism.
“I’ve never denied that we like Curtis Jones,” he said. “He has the qualities that could give us something extra. But there’s a significant gap between our valuation and Liverpool’s.
“Liverpool have every right to ask for what they believe is a fair price, and we have every right to decide whether that works for us or not. As things stand, I’d say it’s very difficult.”
That last line lands heavily. When a director goes that far publicly, it usually signals the end of serious negotiations, at least on current terms. Inter are not walking away from the player. They are walking away from the deal as it stands.
Liverpool’s gamble
From Liverpool’s side, this is a calculated risk. Jones is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract. Sell now, and they bank a sizeable fee. Hold on, and they keep a useful squad option for another season but risk losing him for nothing in 2025.
Their stance suggests they are prepared to do exactly that if no club matches their valuation. In a market where midfielders with Premier League experience often command premiums, Liverpool clearly believe someone will come closer to their number.
If not, they still have a player who knows the system, understands the club and can fill multiple roles. For a team balancing a rebuild with the demands of competing on several fronts, that has value beyond a balance sheet.
Other suitors circling
Inter are not alone in the background. Aston Villa and Arsenal have both been linked with Jones during this window, clubs who could offer European football and ambitious projects of their own. For a player at 25, those profiles carry weight.
Nottingham Forest have also shown interest as they look to strengthen midfield options after Elliot Anderson agreed a £116m move to Manchester City. Jones, though, is believed not to be keen on that switch, underlining that his next move, if it comes, will not be driven by opportunity alone. The project has to fit.
So the situation hangs in a delicate balance. Inter admire him but will not overspend. Liverpool rate him highly and refuse to undersell. Other Premier League clubs are watching, aware that every week that passes takes Jones closer to the point where he can control his own future entirely.
For now, the ball stays at Anfield. How long Liverpool keep hold of it will shape not just Jones’s next step, but the complexion of more than one midfield this season.
