Liverpool's Midfield Reshuffle: Curtis Jones Linked to Inter Milan

Liverpool’s summer reshuffle is gathering pace, and it now has a very clear potential casualty in the heart of midfield.

While the noise around Anfield is dominated by the chase for two new wingers – with Bradley Barcola sitting firmly at the top of the shortlist – the real movement could come in the spine of the squad. If Barcola arrives, and another wide forward follows, Cody Gakpo is expected to be given the green light to complete a move to Tottenham Hotspur, having already agreed personal terms with Spurs.

He is not alone in facing the exit door at the peak of his career.

Inter clear the decks for Curtis Jones

Inter Milan’s long-running pursuit of Curtis Jones has never really gone away. The 25-year-old was their primary midfield target back in January, and that interest has simply rolled on into the current window.

The Serie A champions have tested Liverpool’s resolve several times already. Their biggest bid so far reached around €30m (£26m), but each offer hit the same brick wall. Liverpool held firm, with an initial valuation believed to be in the region of €40m (£34m).

Inter were adamant they would return with an improved proposal, but on one condition: space had to be created in Simone Inzaghi’s midfield. Davide Frattesi was the key.

Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano made it clear Inter would not move again for Jones until Frattesi’s future was resolved, stating there would be “no green light” for a new bid until the Italian left.

That logjam has now snapped.

Romano delivered his trademark “here we go” on Frattesi’s switch to Lazio earlier in the week, and on Friday he laid out the numbers: an initial €5m loan, a €10m buy option, and a 50% sell-on clause in Inter’s favour. It’s a creative deal, but crucially, it frees up room in Inter’s squad and wage bill.

One condition for a Jones push? Met.

Liverpool blink on the price

The second condition was always going to be trickier: Liverpool softening their stance on the fee.

That, too, has now shifted.

Romano reported that Inter still see Jones as a priority target and now believe a deal is realistic at around €35m (£30m). The message from Italy is simple: at that price, they’re ready to move.

On Saturday afternoon, the Liverpool Echo backed that up from the Merseyside side of the table. Their information is that Liverpool will now accept €35m / £30m for Jones, down from the previous demand of roughly €40m / £34m.

Negotiations, they say, had stalled in recent weeks. Now, with the price trimmed and Inter finally clearing Frattesi, the prospect of a breakthrough suddenly looks very real.

A prime asset on the brink

If Gakpo does head to Spurs once Liverpool secure their wide targets, and Jones follows him out to the San Siro, the club will have cashed in on two players in their prime to reshape Arne Slot’s squad in one window.

For Inter, this is the moment they have been waiting for since January: their top midfield target available at a fee they consider workable, with the path cleared by Frattesi’s departure.

For Liverpool, the question is sharper. Having lowered the asking price and watched Inter prepare their next move, are they truly ready to let a 25-year-old academy product walk away just as he hits his peak?