Liverpool have rejected Inter Milan’s second attempt to sign Curtis Jones, with the latest offer worth around £21m still well short of the club’s £35m valuation.
The midfielder is entering the final year of his contract at Anfield, but Liverpool are not prepared to let the 25-year-old leave cheaply while the summer market for Premier League midfielders remains inflated.
Inter first explored a January loan with an option to buy, but that was dismissed quickly. Their renewed approach has now met the same response, with The Times reporting Liverpool have rebuffed a second bid from the Serie A champions.
Liverpool’s stance puts pressure back on Inter Milan
The key issue is not whether Jones has admirers, but whether Inter are willing to get close to Liverpool’s number. A fee in the low £20m range would leave the Reds trying to replace a homegrown England international for less than the going rate in a market where comparable midfielders are being priced far higher.
Sporting director Richard Hughes is said to view Inter’s approach as well below the level required, and Liverpool’s stance leaves the Italian club with a clear choice: raise the offer significantly or risk the trail going cold.
Jones’ contract position still makes this a delicate call for Liverpool. Letting him enter the final year without progress on a renewal carries risk, but accepting a discounted bid would create a different problem entirely.
For now, the message from Anfield is firm. Jones may have a decision to make this summer, but Inter have not yet made the offer that would force Liverpool into one.
