Inter Milan nearing £30m deal for Curtis Jones

Inter Milan are edging towards a deal worth around 35m euros (£30m) for Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones, with negotiations now entering their decisive phase.

Liverpool knocked back a verbal offer of 25m euros (£21.7m) from the Italian champions in June, holding firm to a valuation closer to £35m for the 25-year-old, who is into the final year of his contract at Anfield. That stance has dragged the talks into late summer – but it has also dragged Inter’s price up.

Now the numbers are finally starting to align. A package in the region of £30m is understood to be the figure that could unlock an agreement between the clubs. Sources in Italy believe a verbal understanding is already in place, though both sides insist there are still details to iron out before anything is signed.

Liverpool are prepared to sell, but only on their terms. They want a deal that mirrors the £30m outlay Inter made when they signed Djed Spence from Tottenham, using that move as a benchmark for Jones’ value in the current market.

Inter’s interest is not new. The Serie A champions tried to prise Jones away in January, tabling a loan proposal with an option to buy. Liverpool shut that down, unwilling to lose him mid-season on a temporary basis.

Jones has been part of the Liverpool first-team picture since his debut under Jurgen Klopp in 2019 and has racked up 228 appearances for the club. Last season under Arne Slot he featured 49 times in all competitions, but only started 18 Premier League games and never truly nailed down a permanent place in the midfield.

Now, with a year left on his deal and Inter pushing hard, Liverpool face a clear decision: cash in at close to their asking price, or risk losing a long-serving midfielder for far less down the line.