Liverpool have rejected a second offer from Inter Milan for Curtis Jones, with the Serie A club's £21 million bid falling well short of the Reds' valuation. According to the Times, Liverpool's hierarchy are growing irritated by Inter's approaches, which they do not consider serious.
Valuation gap and contract situation
The 25-year-old midfielder is rated at £35 million by Liverpool, a figure they believe is fair market value after Conor Gallagher joined Tottenham from Atletico Madrid in January for a similar fee. Jones has just one year remaining on his contract at Anfield, with no talks currently taking place over an extension.
Liverpool knocked back an approach from Inter during the winter when the Italian side hoped to agree a loan deal with a view to a permanent transfer. Sporting director Richard Hughes is noted to have little interest in further talks after Inter suggested they would not pay more than £21.7 million.
Heskey's view on potential move
Former Liverpool forward Emile Heskey believes a switch to Serie A could benefit Jones. "I'd be very surprised if he's not pushing for a new contract," Heskey told LiveFootballTickets. "So there's something there that tells me that they're not willing to offer him what he wants. He's got ambitions to be a regular England player. So he needs to be playing regularly, and I think he can become a regular England player but he needs to be playing regularly at his club."
Heskey added: "I think if Liverpool can't give him that I think he then looks at other pastures. You look at Scott McTominay (at Napoli) who has gone on to play in Italy and he's been lauded for it. He's actually changed the way people look at him as a footballer, and I think Curtis has got the ability to do that."
Liverpool's interest in Yann Diomande
In other news, Liverpool have told RB Leipzig they are willing to bid up to £86 million for 19-year-old Ivory Coast star Yann Diomande. Diomande discussed a potential Premier League move, saying: "Would I be open to the Premier League? I don't know. I am an RB Leipzig player, but why not? My agents will sort that out. As for me I am more focused on the World Cup, that's the most important thing."
