Inter Milan are really pushing to sign Curtis Jones, but Liverpool aren't making it easy for them.
Liverpool just knocked back a second offer from the Italian giants. After saying no to a first bid of £21.6 million, Inter came back with a new offer of around £27 million according to reports. Liverpool turned that down immediately, too. They are holding out for £30 million, and they aren't planning to budge.
What is Liverpool’s plan?
Essentially, Liverpool are in no rush to sell their scouse asset unless a valid bid is made
Jones has one year left on his contract. Even though the 25-year-old midfielder is open to leaving this summer to get more game time, Liverpool are perfectly happy to keep him for the season and let him leave for free next year if nobody meets their £30 million asking price.
There is no bad blood here, either. The club have absolutely no issues with his attitude or how professional he is. He’s a local lad, he works hard, and if he stays and plays well, he might even earn himself a new contract.
While there have been rumblings that Iraola is also eyeing a move for his former Bournemouth starlet Alex Scott as a potential midfield addition, his public quotes strongly suggest he wants to keep the academy graduate on Merseyside.
Unless Inter Milan decides to significantly open their wallets and meet that £35m asking price, it sounds like Iraola is relying on Jones as a key part of his midfield rebuild.
The manager wants him to stay
Liverpool's new head coach Andoni Iraola, made it very clear that he wants to keep the midfielder around. Just a day before Inter’s second bid came in, Iraola spoke highly of him:
Speaking to reporters during an interview on Monday he stated:
"I will have the chance to speak with him today. I rate Curtis very highly. For me he is a great, great player and I hope he can continue with us and continue performing the way he has been performing."
"I rate Curtis very highly. For me, he is a great player. It’s very important he’s Scouse, that he’s from here. I also like the personality. I hope we can keep him, not only for this year, more time."
Exclusive: Inter have made a new approach for Curtis Jones through intermediaries. €32m has been floated and rejected out of hand. Jones will remain unless #LFC’s €40m+ valuation is met.#LFC considered the first €25m bid as derisory and the second approach also dismissed. pic.twitter.com/AjNYmVsjRO
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) July 14, 2026
Why Curtis might want a fresh start
If the new boss wants him, why does Jones want to leave? It mostly comes down to how much he played last season under former head coach Arne Slot.
Jones spent a lot of time on the bench. He only started four Champions League games and was used as a subsitute 16 times in the Premier League, ending up with just one goal and two assists.
That lack of playing time and some frustrating team performances has led to some tension, including a rumoured at the time whilst he was in charge a disagreement with Slot and a pretty frustrated interview on TV after Liverpool 4-1 defeat against PSV Eindhoven.
At the end of the season, it felt like a transfer was bound to happen. But if no one pays up, he’ll be staying put.
What's next?
Word is that Inter Milan is preparing a third bid. But unless they hit that £30 million mark, Curtis Jones will be staying at Anfield to try and prove himself to his new head coach.
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