Liverpool's Midfield Reshuffle: Curtis Jones at Risk of Leaving

Liverpool’s summer reshuffle is accelerating – and it now has a very real human cost in the middle of the pitch.

While the noise around Anfield is dominated by the pursuit of two new wingers, with Bradley Barcola sitting at the top of the shortlist, the quieter story is the one that could rip a homegrown midfielder out of the club at his peak.

If Liverpool land Barcola and another wide forward, Cody Gakpo is expected to be given the green light to join Tottenham, with personal terms between the Dutchman and Spurs already agreed. That alone would be a major move.

But he may not be the only player in his prime walking out of the door.

Inter clear the decks for Curtis Jones

Inter Milan’s interest in Curtis Jones has never really gone away. The 25-year-old was their priority midfield target back in January, and that focus has survived into this window despite a string of failed bids.

The Serie A champions have already tested Liverpool’s resolve several times, their highest offer reaching around €30m (£26m). Each time, Liverpool pushed it back, holding firm around an initial valuation of roughly €40m (£34m).

Inter were never planning to go that high. They wanted Jones, but on their terms. And they had a problem: squad space and finances tied up in Davide Frattesi.

Fabrizio Romano made it clear Inter would not return to the table until Frattesi was moved on, stating there would be “no green light” for a new bid before the Italian midfielder’s exit was resolved. Inter had to sell before they could truly chase Jones.

That obstacle has now gone.

Romano has since delivered his trademark “here we go” on Frattesi’s switch to Lazio, confirming the deal as an initial €5m loan with a €10m buy option and a 50% sell-on clause in Inter’s favour. It’s a creative structure, but crucially, it frees Inter to go all-in on their preferred target.

With Frattesi in Rome, one half of the Jones equation is complete.

Liverpool blink on the fee

The second condition was always Liverpool’s stance. If the Reds refused to move on price, Inter would simply look elsewhere.

They haven’t had to.

Romano reported that Inter have kept Jones at the top of their list since May and now believe a deal is realistic at around €35m (£30m). That feeling is backed up on Merseyside.

The Liverpool Echo has confirmed that Liverpool are now prepared to accept €35m / £30m for the academy graduate, down from their previous demand of about £34m. Negotiations had stalled in recent weeks, but that shift has reopened the door and raised expectations of a breakthrough.

Jones is not a fringe player. He is entering his prime years, a 25-year-old who fought his way into the first team and became a symbol of the club’s faith in youth. Letting him go at a reduced fee is a clear sign of how aggressively Liverpool are prepared to reshape this squad under the current project.

Inter, for their part, have stayed patient, circled back, and now see the numbers finally aligning.

Liverpool wanted clarity in attack before making their midfield calls. Inter needed Frattesi off the books before they could attack the deal. Both of those conditions have now been met.

The question is no longer whether Curtis Jones is for sale.

It’s how quickly Inter Milan move to turn long-term admiration into a bid Liverpool can’t ignore.