Liverpool have rejected a verbal offer of 25 million euros from Inter Milan for midfielder Curtis Jones, with the bid amounting to £21.7m.
The Premier League club consider the offer significantly below their valuation, with Liverpool placing a price tag of £35m on the 25-year-old.
Liverpool are unwilling to sanction a cut-price exit for Jones, making clear that no deal will be done at Inter’s proposed figure.
This is the second time Inter Milan have approached Liverpool for Jones this year, having also expressed serious interest back in January.
During the winter window, the Italian club proposed a loan deal with a view to a permanent transfer, but Liverpool rejected that approach outright.
Jones is entering the final year of his contract at Anfield, which adds a layer of urgency to the negotiations heading into the summer window.
Inter Milan’s sporting director Piero Ausilio spoke openly about the club’s pursuit of the midfielder earlier this month, making their intentions clear.
Ausilio said: “Curtis Jones – we are paying attention to him. We didn’t hide. We understand what the developments will be.”
Inter winger Federico Chiesa went further, telling Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport that Jones asked him what it is like to live in Italy.
Chiesa’s comments suggest Jones himself has shown some curiosity about a potential move to Serie A, though Liverpool remain firm in their stance.
Jones has been part of the Liverpool setup for the majority of his life, having joined the club’s academy at the age of nine.
He signed his first professional contract with the Reds in 2018, progressing through the ranks to become a regular first-team fixture at Anfield.
With one year remaining on his deal, Liverpool face a crucial decision over whether to hold their ground or risk losing Jones for nothing next summer.
Inter will likely need to significantly increase their offer if they are to have any hope of persuading Liverpool to part with the homegrown midfielder.
