Jones, Szoboszlai and Tsimikas ease tensions in Chicago as Inter increase pressure on Liverpool
CHICAGO, Illinois – Several days after a public argument overshadowed Liverpool's victory over Wrexham, footage from training in Chicago showed Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai and Kostas Tsimikas working together in a relaxed atmosphere. The three players exchanged passes and talked without any visible signs of tension, suggesting that the misunderstanding over the captain's armband had, at least within the squad, quickly been put behind them. Liverpool have not issued an official statement about the incident or confirmed that a special meeting was held with the players, so the conclusion that the situation has calmed down is based on publicly available training footage. Nevertheless, the scenes from Chicago were important for the club because they emerged at a time when the debate over the dressing-room hierarchy had begun to be linked with Jones's uncertain future at Anfield.
The sporting side of the story therefore became intertwined with the transfer market very quickly. According to a report by the Guardian, intermediaries representing Inter Milan have contacted Liverpool again and conveyed the Italian champions' willingness to offer around €35 million for the 25-year-old midfielder. The same source states that the English club value their academy graduate closer to €40 million, which is why an agreement has not yet been reached. The difference between the two valuations is not large by international market standards, but Liverpool's decision does not depend solely on the transfer fee. Jones has entered the final year of his contract, and the club must weigh the sporting value of keeping him, the possibility of extending their cooperation and the risk that he could leave without a fee next summer.
Argument after the victory at Yankee Stadium
Liverpool defeated Wrexham 1-0 at New York's Yankee Stadium on July 29, 2026, in the second pre-season match of their United States tour. The club's official report states that the only goal was scored by Rio Ngumoha, whose 75th-minute shot changed direction after touching a defender and ended up beyond the goalkeeper. Andoni Iraola's team therefore maintained a perfect record on the tour after a 4-2 victory against Sunderland in Nashville. Szoboszlai started the match against Wrexham as captain in Virgil van Dijk's absence, and it was the handing over of the armband when he left the field that became the main talking point after the final whistle.
According to video footage from the stands and reports from several British media outlets, Szoboszlai handed the armband to Tsimikas rather than Jones, who was also on the pitch at the time. After the match, Jones became involved in a visibly heated discussion with the Hungarian midfielder, with the Greek defender then joining the exchange. It has not been officially confirmed what words were spoken, nor has the club announced that the captain's armband was the only reason for the disagreement. The available footage nevertheless supports the assessment that the decision over who would take over the captain's role caused dissatisfaction for Liverpool's academy graduate.
The incident carried additional weight because of Jones's status at the club. He joined Liverpool at the age of nine, progressed through the academy and has played more than 200 matches for the senior team, so his connection with the club is often viewed differently from the status of players brought in from elsewhere. In the squad's informal hierarchy, length of service can influence decisions concerning the captain's armband, although the coach has the right to establish his own order. Even before the disputed match, Iraola emphasised that he would not decide on the vice-captain until he had become familiar with the entire group, particularly the players who joined pre-season later because of international commitments.
Training offered a different picture of the relationship
The open training session in Chicago on July 31 offered a much calmer picture. Jones, Szoboszlai and Tsimikas were filmed taking part together in a light passing drill before the main part of the session, without avoidance, gesturing or signs that the conflict was continuing. Such footage cannot prove that every issue has been resolved, but it did show that the incident had not developed into an open rift capable of disrupting preparations. That is important for the coaching staff because the United States tour is being used to absorb Iraola's demands, improve physical fitness and create a new hierarchy following the change of coach.
Liverpool travelled to the United States with an initial group of 31 players, with Chicago selected as the main base for the tour. In official announcements, the club emphasised that the training sessions in the city were part of the final stage of their stay in the US, which concludes with a match against Leeds United at Soldier Field on August 2. Because of the large number of young players, returning players and footballers joining at different stages of pre-season, any public tension among the more experienced members of the squad attracts additional attention. At the same time, brief arguments on the pitch are not unusual in a competitive environment and do not necessarily indicate a long-term problem in themselves.
In Chicago, Szoboszlai spoke about the need for more players to take responsibility in the dressing room. In response to journalists' questions, he did not comment in detail on the dispute with Jones, instead saying that the group wants what is best for the club and will follow the instructions of the captain, the coach and the coaching staff. Iraola had previously described the Hungary international as a player who leads by example in training and who should have an important leadership role. At the same time, he stressed that captaincy does not depend solely on who wears the armband and that a successful team needs several players capable of taking responsibility.
Inter reopen negotiating channel through intermediaries
While relations in training appeared to return to normal, Inter intensified their interest in Jones. The Guardian reported on July 31 that intermediaries for the Italian club had contacted Liverpool again during the week and raised the possibility of a €35 million offer. According to the same report, Liverpool rejected an earlier proposal of approximately €25 million in June. The new amount moves closer to the English club's expectations but still remains around €5 million below the valuation Liverpool reportedly considers acceptable.
It is important to distinguish renewed contact and an expressed willingness to make an offer from a completed transfer. As of August 1, 2026, neither Liverpool nor Inter had officially announced that an offer had been accepted, that Jones had received permission to negotiate personal terms or that a medical examination had been scheduled. At present, this is a negotiating phase in which both sides are testing the scope for an agreement. Inter can rely on the fact that the contractual situation reduces Liverpool's negotiating security, while the English club can point to Jones's age, experience, versatility and status as a player developed in their own academy.
The Milan club are seeking additional quality in midfield following a successful domestic season and see Jones as a player capable of covering several roles. The England international can operate as a central or more attacking midfielder and has also been used in wider positions during his career. His ability to retain the ball under pressure and connect the lines fits the demands of a team seeking to control possession, but Inter's final assessment also depends on the price. For Liverpool, on the other hand, a potential sale would create the need for another option in the rotation, particularly in a season in which Iraola is trying simultaneously to change the playing style and restore balance to the squad.
Final year of contract changes the balance of power
Jones's contractual situation is crucial to understanding why the possibility of a departure is increasing. When a player enters the final 12 months of a contract, the club has limited time to agree an extension or complete a sale on terms that still generate a significant fee. If the agreement is not extended, Jones would move into a much stronger negotiating position as winter approaches, while Liverpool would face the possibility of losing him without direct compensation at the end of the season. For that reason, Inter's offer of around €35 million could become more serious than it would be if the midfielder still had three or four years remaining on his contract.
Liverpool, however, do not have only financial reasons to consider. Jones is one of the few prominent academy graduates in the senior team, knows the club's culture well and can fulfil several tactical tasks. His departure would reduce the number of experienced players who have spent their entire professional careers connected with Anfield, which is particularly sensitive during a period of leadership change. Upon his arrival, Iraola emphasised the importance of local identity and publicly stated that he rates Jones very highly and would like to retain him for longer than one season.
On the other hand, Jones has not permanently secured a place in the starting line-up in recent years. Competition in Liverpool's midfield remains strong, and his number of minutes has often depended on injuries, rotation and tactical requirements in individual matches. For a player entering a stage of his career in which he expects a more regular role, Inter's interest may represent a sporting opportunity as well as a contractual change. It is not known whether Jones has officially requested a departure, so his personal position cannot be reduced to media interpretations of the argument after the Wrexham match.
Iraola's decision will be both sporting and symbolic
Liverpool's new coach is facing a decision that goes beyond the assessment of a single transfer offer. Keeping Jones would preserve midfield depth and retain a player who understands the demands of the Premier League, but without a new contract it would extend the uncertainty into the final months of the season. A sale would provide significant income and remove the risk of a free departure, but it would simultaneously deprive Iraola of a footballer whom he has publicly identified as important to the team's future. The difference between Inter's willingness to pay €35 million and Liverpool's valuation of around €40 million may therefore not be the only issue in the final discussions.
The argument over the captain's armband also opened a broader debate about leadership following changes to the squad. Iraola said in Chicago that he would decide on the vice-captain later in pre-season and that the armband itself does not determine who is a leader. His message points towards a model in which several experienced players will share responsibility, rather than a hierarchy relying solely on one formal role. In that context, the incident against Wrexham could remain only a brief episode from a period in which roles are still being defined.
Footage from the latest training session currently gives Liverpool reason for calm. Jones, Szoboszlai and Tsimikas appeared to be teammates focused on working together, allowing the club to concentrate on concluding the United States tour against Leeds. Much greater uncertainty remains off the pitch, where Inter's latest move closer to the asking price increases the possibility of a transfer. Until an official decision from the clubs or an agreement on a new contract arrives, Jones will remain between two roles: an important member of Iraola's team and one of the most interesting available midfielders in the closing stages of the summer transfer window.
Sources:
- Liverpool FC – official report on the 1-0 victory against Wrexham and Dominik Szoboszlai's role as captain (link)
- Liverpool FC – official footage of the team's open training session in Chicago (link)
- The Guardian – report on renewed contact by Inter's intermediaries, a possible €35 million offer and Liverpool's valuation of the player (link)
- Liverpool FC – Iraola's comments on Szoboszlai's leadership role, the choice of vice-captain and the distribution of responsibility within the team (link)
- Liverpool FC – official profile of Curtis Jones, his development through the academy and senior career (link)
- Liverpool FC – official footage of Andoni Iraola's and Dominik Szoboszlai's press conferences in Chicago (link)
- The Independent – report on the argument between Jones and Szoboszlai after the match against Wrexham (link)