Inter Milan are edging towards a deal for Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones after fresh talks over the player. The Reds academy graduate has been linked with a move away from Anfield all summer.
Italian giants Inter have emerged as the most likely destination for Jones, although talks appeared to have halted earlier this summer. Jones now has fresh hope of completing a move.
Fresh talks and potential fee
According to the Liverpool Echo, discussions are now underway between the two clubs regarding a deal that could be worth around £30m. Liverpool had previously been seeking around £35m, while Inter were only offering £21m.
Davide Frattesi's move from the San Siro to Italian rivals Lazio has now allowed Inter to return to the negotiating table. It remains to be seen how boss Andoni Iraola will take the news, having only last month expressed his desire to keep Jones at the club.
Iraola's stance on Jones
Iraola said: "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."
"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."
Jones' Liverpool career and contract situation
Jones, 25, has been with the Liverpool academy since the age of nine and was handed his first-team debut in 2018. He has since gone on to amass 228 appearances for the Reds and has scored 22 times.
Jones has just one year remaining on his current deal. Former Liverpool star Vladimir Smicer has already criticised a potential sale.
Smicer's reaction
"If Curtis Jones goes, I'd be very sad," he said, via Casinostugan. "I rate him really highly. Technically he's a fantastic player. What is missing is just a little bit of confidence from the coach because he needs to play regularly. If you're not playing regularly, you start to doubt yourself."
"If you train every day and then don't play at the end of the week, it's sad. But he's not been in the starting XI for a while. Instead of him, it's (Dominik) Szoboszlai, (Ryan) Gravenberch, or (Alexis) Mac Allister."
"He's twenty-five years old and I think he wants to find a team where he will be playing every game. Then his confidence can go higher. Now he's in a situation where he's wondering what his real position is. He's even played right-back."
"I think he's looking for a team where he will be starting regularly. I'd be sad if he goes because he's a good lad. Technically he's very good. He can pass and run with the ball."
"We'll see what Andoni Iraola is thinking about him. If Andoni wants him to stay and gives him a new opportunity and an idea of what he's thinking, he can stay."
