Inter Milan Tests Liverpool's Resolve Over Curtis Jones
Inter Milan have moved to test Liverpool’s resolve over Curtis Jones, sensing opportunity in a week when the midfielder’s emotions spilled into public view.
James Horncastle reports for The Athletic that the Serie A champions have made contact with Liverpool via intermediaries and indicated a willingness to pay around €35m (£29.9m). Liverpool, for now, are understood to value the 25-year-old closer to €40m (£34.2m).
A gap, but not a chasm. The kind of distance that invites a second bid.
A viral flash of anger
Inter’s timing is no coincidence.
Jones has been at the centre of a minor storm after footage emerged of him arguing with Dominik Szoboszlai and Kostas Tsimikas in the aftermath of Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Wrexham. It was only a pre-season friendly, yet the reaction said plenty.
The clip, widely shared on social media, shows Tsimikas tossing the Liverpool captain’s armband to the turf. That gesture clearly infuriated Jones. The dispute appeared to stem from Szoboszlai, Liverpool’s No.8, handing the armband to Tsimikas rather than to Jones when he was substituted.
For a player who came through the club’s academy and has grown up under the weight of Liverpool’s captaincy hierarchy, the moment cut deep. In a game that meant nothing in the standings, the symbolism meant everything to him.
It was not a good look. Jones lost his cool, and it played out in front of cameras. Yet the reaction also underlined how seriously he takes the idea of responsibility and status within the squad.
A Scouser at a crossroads
Jones’ contract runs until the summer of 2027, which places Liverpool in a strong position. They are under no pressure to sell. That does not stop the questions.
A move to Serie A has long carried a certain allure for technically gifted English midfielders seeking a more central role and a different tactical culture. Inter can dangle exactly that: a key position in a title-winning side, a fresh stage, a new start away from the scrutiny of his hometown club.
Inside Liverpool, the uncertainty lies not in his ability but in how he will fit under Andoni Iraola. The new head coach has, publicly at least, left little doubt about his admiration.
“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,” Iraola has said. “It’s very important that he’s Scouse, that he’s from here. I also like the personality. From the outside at least, he looks like a player with good character and I hope we can keep him, not only for this year but for more time.”
Those are not the words of a coach ready to usher a player towards the exit. They are the words of a manager who sees Jones as part of the fabric of what he wants Liverpool to be: intense, aggressive, emotionally invested.
Inter smell opportunity
Inter, though, know the market. A flash of frustration, a viral clip, a debate over status in the dressing room – this is when smart clubs probe.
They have gone in below Liverpool’s valuation, as any negotiating side would. €35m is serious money, yet still framed as a starting point rather than a final offer. Liverpool’s stance at around €40m sets a clear marker: Jones is not a bargain to be picked off because of one public disagreement.
For the player, the decision cuts deeper than numbers. Stay, fight for an elevated role in an Iraola side built on “intensity-first” football that echoes Liverpool’s recent past? Or explore a league where tactical nuance and slower rhythms might give him more control and prominence?
Jones has spent years trying to prove he is more than just the local lad with flair. Under a new regime, he may finally get the chance to anchor that claim.
Inter are betting that the lure of being central, rather than symbolic, could turn his head. Liverpool are betting that the badge, the armband, and the promise of a defined role under Iraola still matter more.
Soon enough, one of those bets will be called.
