Curtis Jones Nears Anfield Exit as Inter Milan Increases Bid

Inter Milan can sense it now. What began as a long shot in January has turned into a pursuit laced with growing conviction that Curtis Jones will swap Anfield for San Siro before this window closes.

The Serie A champions have tracked the Liverpool midfielder for months, refusing to walk away even after multiple bids were pushed back. Their most recent offer, around €25million, hit the same wall. Liverpool said no. Inter, at first, insisted that was their ceiling, pointing to the fact Jones is entering the final 12 months of his contract.

That stance hasn’t lasted.

Inter’s negotiators, helped by intermediaries close to the deal, have kept the conversation alive and are now working on a new proposal worth roughly €30million. The aim is simple: crack Liverpool’s resistance without getting dragged into a drawn‑out auction that doesn’t exist.

Liverpool, for their part, have held firm to a valuation closer to €35million / £30million, a figure they feel sits comfortably in the current Premier League market. Yet there is a sense the door is no longer bolted. If talks keep moving in this direction, there is quiet confidence that the Reds could soften their position.

Iraola’s dilemma: admire him or move him on

Inside Anfield, the situation lands squarely on the desk of Andoni Iraola.

The new head coach is a genuine admirer of Jones. A homegrown midfielder with technical quality, tactical discipline and years of club education is not something any manager gives up lightly. Ideally, Iraola would keep him and build with him.

But he is also a realist. Sources indicate Iraola has made it clear that if Jones is going to be sold, it needs to happen quickly. He does not want a key squad piece hanging in limbo as the window ticks towards its frantic final days. Clarity now, or not at all.

Jones appears to understand the crossroads. He is open to the move. Contract talks with Liverpool are not on the table, which only fuels the feeling that this summer might be the natural breaking point for both player and club.

The timing is no accident. The academy graduate’s future has come under sharper focus after Liverpool’s recent pre-season win over Wrexham, a low‑stakes fixture that still managed to throw up a flashpoint.

Armband flashpoint adds fuel to the fire

As the final whistle blew, cameras and onlookers picked up a tense exchange involving Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai and Kostas Tsimikas.

The disagreement, sources say, stemmed from a seemingly small detail that cut deep for a proud Scouser: the captain’s armband. When Szoboszlai was substituted, he handed it to Tsimikas rather than to Jones. The England midfielder did not appreciate the decision.

Liverpool have played down the incident, insisting it is not a major issue in the dressing room. On another day, it might have passed as a minor pre-season squabble. In the current context, it has only sharpened the spotlight on Jones’ status and standing at the club.

For Inter, that tension is useful. They sense a moment to strike.

Inter smell opportunity

From Milan’s perspective, the stars are aligning. They have already brought in John Stones and are now pushing hard to land a second England international in the same window. Jones, at 23 and with top-level experience, fits their model: hungry, technically polished, and available at a price they believe can be negotiated down to a sweet spot.

The Italians are convinced the timing works in their favour. Liverpool are juggling a new head coach, a contract impasse and a player increasingly open to a fresh challenge abroad. Inter’s task is to turn belief into a done deal before someone at Anfield decides the risk of losing Jones for nothing next summer is too great to ignore.

The next offer will tell everyone how serious they are—and how ready Liverpool are to let one of their own walk away.