Inter up the ante for Curtis Jones with £30m offer as Liverpool face Jones dilemma

Inter Milan have reignited their pursuit of Curtis Jones, making a fresh move to prise the Liverpool midfielder away from Anfield. The Serie A champions are prepared to increase their offer to €35m (£30m), according to reports, having seen an initial €25m bid rejected back in June. With Jones entering the final year of his contract, the Italian giants sense an opportunity to land a player who has spent his entire career to date at his boyhood club.

The latest twist

Intermediaries representing Inter have been in contact with Liverpool this week to outline the club's willingness to go to €35m. That represents a significant step up from their earlier bid, though Liverpool are thought to value the 25-year-old closer to €40m. The gap is narrowing, but whether the Merseysiders will accept what remains a below-valuation offer is another matter entirely.

What makes this saga particularly intriguing is the contractual elephant in the room. Jones has just 12 months left on his current deal, giving Liverpool limited leverage. They can either cash in now or risk losing him for nothing next summer. For a player whose homegrown status adds pure profit to any sale, the financial logic of selling this window is compelling.

Why this deal makes sense for all parties

For Inter, Jones represents an affordable, talented addition to a midfield that needs fresh legs and technical quality. He has shown over the years that he can operate in multiple roles across the engine room, and at 25 he is entering his peak years. The Italian champions have a track record of finding value in the Premier League market, and this fits that mould.

For Jones himself, a move to Serie A would offer a new challenge and, crucially, regular first-team football. Despite being a Liverpool player since his early teens, he has never fully established himself as an automatic starter. With increased competition for places at Anfield, his game time could be further squeezed. A fresh start in Milan might be exactly what his career needs.

Liverpool, meanwhile, face a difficult decision. They have always valued Jones as a squad player and a product of their academy, but sentiment rarely wins out when a player is unwilling to sign an extension. The Reds have learned the hard way that letting players run down their contracts can lead to damaging exits.

What it means

The ball is now in Liverpool's court. If they reject this improved offer, they run the risk of seeing Jones leave on a free transfer in 2026. If they accept, they lose a useful squad option but gain a fee that can be reinvested elsewhere. Given the midfielder's situation and Inter's persistence, it feels increasingly likely that a compromise will be found.

With the transfer window still open, this is one to watch. Jones's departure would leave a gap in Liverpool's squad balance, but it could also free up funds for a midfield reinforcement. For now, the faithful at Anfield will be hoping their club drives a hard bargain — but the writing may be on the wall. Jones is edging towards the exit door, and Inter are pushing hard to make him theirs.