Liverpool Reject Second Inter Milan Bid for Curtis Jones
Liverpool have rejected a second transfer bid from Inter Milan for midfielder Curtis Jones, with the £21.7 million offer falling nearly £15 million short of the club's £35 million asking price. The Reds are growing increasingly frustrated with Inter's approach, according to the Liverpool Echo.
The Serie A champions have been locked in negotiations with Liverpool for several weeks after initially being rebuffed in the January transfer window. However, their latest verbal proposal remains well below what Liverpool consider a fair price for the 25-year-old academy product.
Valuation Disparity and Benchmark
Liverpool are holding out for closer to £35 million for Jones, who ended last season deputising as a makeshift right-back under former head coach Arne Slot. The club have pointed to Conor Gallagher's £35 million transfer to Tottenham Hotspur from Atletico Madrid in January as the benchmark for their valuation.
This transfer window has also seen midfielders Elliot Anderson, Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali linked with departures for fees ranging between £80 million and £100 million. Replacing Jones at a knockdown price would prove problematic for Liverpool, especially as other targets such as RB Leipzig's £100 million-rated Yan Diomande take precedence.
Contract Situation and Playing Time
Jones is entering the final year of his contract at Anfield. Liverpool would prefer to retain him for that season rather than offload him for an inadequate fee. Former head coach Slot suggested in February that negotiations were underway on a fresh deal, but the likelihood of an agreement seems remote with no talks currently taking place.
Jones is eager for increased playing time after making just 18 Premier League starts last season. It remains uncertain whether Inter will lodge a bid that would convince Liverpool to sell, given the disparity between the valuations.
Jones' Liverpool Career
Jones has registered 228 appearances for his boyhood club since his debut in January 2019 and has earned four England caps. The midfielder came through Liverpool's academy and has been a key squad member, but his role diminished last season.
