Inter Milan Targets Curtis Jones as Liverpool Faces Key Summer Sale

Inter Milan have stepped up their pursuit of Curtis Jones, with the Serie A champions working to strike a deal for the Liverpool midfielder before the transfer window closes, according to sources.

The 25-year-old is open to the move. After years on the fringes at Anfield, he wants something Liverpool have never quite given him: guaranteed status as a central figure rather than a squad option. San Siro, with its history and its glare, appeals.

At Liverpool, the numbers tell a story of trust with limits. Jones featured in 34 Premier League matches in the 2025-26 season, but started only 18 as Andoni Iraola’s side laboured to a fifth-place finish. He was present, often useful, but rarely untouchable.

That lack of prominence came at a cost. When Thomas Tuchel named his England squad for the 2026 World Cup, Jones was nowhere near it. A player once tipped as a long-term international option watched the tournament from home, his stock stalled at club and country level.

If Liverpool and Inter agree a fee, Jones is likely to become Liverpool’s first major outgoing of the summer. For a club already reshaping under Iraola, it would mark the start of a more ruthless phase of the rebuild. No significant sale has yet gone through; this could be the one that breaks the seal.

A career caught between promise and pecking order

Jones’ story at Liverpool has never been a tale of failure. Since his debut in the 2018-19 campaign, he has steadily carved out a role in the first team. In four of the last six seasons he has made at least 34 appearances in all competitions, contributing across league, Europe and cups.

He has lifted major trophies, including a Premier League title. He has scored important goals, filled gaps in injury crises, and carried the badge with the confidence of a local lad who knows exactly what Anfield expects.

But he has never quite shifted from “useful” to “indispensable.”

The underlying data helps explain why the club may now be ready to listen. As of 5 August, figures from Fotmob paint the picture of a midfielder who does many things reasonably well, but few things at an elite level.

Jones averaged 0.05 goals per game, with a 0.13 xG, 1.07 shots, 0.09 assists and 0.98 chances created. Defensively, he recorded 4.76 duels won per match with a 50.7 per cent success rate, alongside 1.87 tackles and 0.84 interceptions.

Those are solid, honest numbers. They are not the numbers of a player who forces a manager to build a system around him.

Set him against some of his teammates and the contrast sharpens. Dominik Szoboszlai offers a far sharper attacking edge. Ryan Gravenberch brings stronger defensive presence and ball-winning ability. In a midfield that needs specialists as much as all-rounders, Jones risks becoming the man in the middle in every sense.

So if Liverpool cash in, few inside Anfield will be shocked. There will be respect for his service, appreciation for the moments he provided, but also an understanding that both club and player may need a clean break.

Inter’s opportunity, Liverpool’s dilemma

For Inter, this is a chance to pick up a technically sound, tactically educated midfielder entering what should be his peak years. For Jones, it is a shot at reinvention in a league that often rewards intelligent, versatile players.

For Liverpool, it is a test of how far they are willing to go in reshaping Iraola’s squad. A homegrown player leaving for a major European rival is never an easy decision, but the message would be clear: sentiment no longer trumps evolution.

And Jones is not the only potential departure on the table.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly made Cody Gakpo their top attacking target this summer. The Netherlands international, once a central figure in Liverpool’s forward line, now faces fresh competition after the arrival of Victor Munoz and the possible signing of Bradley Barcola.

If both of those moves materialise, Gakpo’s status could shift quickly from central to expendable. Sensing an opening, Spurs are circling, hoping that a recalibration of Liverpool’s attack will loosen the club’s grip on the Dutchman.

The window still has weeks to run. Inter push for Jones. Spurs hover around Gakpo. Iraola and Liverpool’s hierarchy stand at a crossroads, knowing that the next sale they sanction may define not just the balance sheet, but the shape of the team that walks out at Anfield for the seasons to come.