Inter Milan Pursues Curtis Jones from Liverpool

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

The move has momentum. Inter believe a compromise can be found, and Jones is understood to be open – more than open, in fact. At 25, he no longer wants to live on the fringes at Anfield.

From promising pillar to peripheral figure

Jones’ Liverpool story has never quite matched its early promise. He broke into the first team in the 2018-19 season and, over time, carved out a steady role in the squad. In four of the last six campaigns he has reached at least 34 appearances in all competitions, contributing to a period in which Liverpool collected major silverware, including a Premier League title.

Yet the numbers tell a more ruthless tale about his status.

Last season, Jones featured in 34 Premier League matches but started only 18 as Liverpool finished fifth. He was involved, but rarely indispensable. That lack of clear, defining influence cost him dearly in the international arena: Thomas Tuchel left him out of England’s 2026 World Cup squad. For a player who once looked destined to be a central figure for club and country, the omission underlined his stalled trajectory.

A midfielder without a clear edge

Liverpool’s data analysts will not be surprised by the current debate around his future. According to Fotmob figures from 5 August, 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 produced 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. But they are not the figures of a specialist.

In a midfield now shaped by the cutting edge of Dominik Szoboszlai in the final third and the defensive presence of Ryan Gravenberch, Jones sits awkwardly between profiles. He is not the relentless attacking threat Szoboszlai represents, nor the robust shield Gravenberch offers. In a squad chasing fine margins, that lack of a standout trait leaves him exposed.

So if Liverpool do cash in, few on the Kop will be truly shocked. Many have admired his technique, his willingness to take the ball in tight areas, his homegrown status. Yet just as many have wondered when, or if, he would genuinely seize a starting berth and refuse to give it back.

Liverpool’s first big sale on the horizon?

If Inter and Liverpool strike an agreement, Jones is likely to become the club’s first major outgoing of the summer. Andoni Iraola has reshaped and refreshed the squad in other ways, but so far no key figure has left for a significant fee. Jones could be the one to break that pattern.

For Inter, the attraction is clear. They see a 25-year-old with Champions League experience, schooled in a high-intensity system, available at a stage of his career where he needs responsibility and minutes. In Italy, he would not be a rotation piece behind a packed cast of midfielders; he would be recruited to influence games, not just manage them.

For Jones, the prospect is equally compelling. A move to San Siro offers a fresh stage, a new league, and the chance to redefine himself away from the shadow of Liverpool’s evolving midfield hierarchy.

Anfield exits: who follows Jones?

Jones may not be the only Liverpool player facing a crossroads.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly made Cody Gakpo their top attacking target this summer. The Netherlands international could see his importance at Anfield diluted after the arrival of Victor Munoz, with Bradley Barcola also strongly linked with a move to Merseyside.

If both attacking recruits land, the competition across the front line intensifies. Spurs sense an opportunity. They are exploring a move for Gakpo as they look to upgrade their forward options and add a versatile attacker capable of operating across the frontline.

Liverpool, for now, are weighing their hand. No decision has been made on Gakpo, and the broader picture of outgoings remains fluid as the window ticks towards its close.

What is clear is that this Liverpool squad, long anchored by familiar faces, is edging towards another phase of evolution. If Curtis Jones walks out of Anfield for the last time this month, it will not just mark the end of a local lad’s long apprenticeship. It will be a clear signal that sentiment is no longer enough to secure a place in Iraola’s new Liverpool.