Inter Milan raise Curtis Jones offer to €35m as Liverpool contract risk grows
Italian champions Inter Milan have increased their bid for Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones to €35m, testing the English club's resolve as the player enters the final year of his contract.
Inter Milan have submitted a revised €35m (£30m) offer for Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones. The Italian club's intermediaries contacted the Premier League side this week to outline the increased valuation for the 25-year-old. This marks their second formal attempt to secure his signature this summer.
This fresh approach follows a rejected €25m bid from June. Liverpool initially valued their homegrown player closer to €40m, creating a significant gap between the two clubs regarding the transfer fee. Bridging this financial divide remains the primary hurdle in the ongoing negotiations.
The financial dynamics of this negotiation are heavily influenced by Jones's contract status. With only one year remaining on his deal at Anfield, Liverpool faces the distinct economic risk of losing the player for free next summer if a transfer is not finalized. This ticking clock fundamentally alters the leverage in the transfer market.
This depreciation of asset value places immense pressure on the selling club. Holding onto a player with an expiring contract often forces organizations to accept lower fees as the deadline approaches. Inter is clearly leveraging this financial reality to push the deal forward.
On the pitch, Jones has struggled to secure a regular starting role for the English side. He appeared frustrated at times during the previous campaign under former manager Arne Slot. This lack of consistent game time has reportedly impacted his overall satisfaction at the club.
Tensions have also surfaced publicly during recent preseason activities. Jones was involved in a dispute with Dominik Szoboszlai following a victory over Wrexham in New York. The disagreement reportedly centered on the captain's armband during a second-half substitution.
Liverpool's new head coach Andoni Iraola has publicly emphasized the importance of retaining Jones. The manager highlighted the value of maintaining a local identity at the club during his first season in charge. Iraola views the midfielder as a crucial component of his squad rebuilding plans.
However, sporting sentiment must eventually align with financial pragmatism. While Liverpool acceptance of the €35m sum remains doubtful, the prospect of a zero-fee departure next year changes the financial calculus. Consequently, an agreement for the England international to depart his boyhood club seems increasingly likely.
