Liverpool rejects Inter's new offer for Curtis Jones: difference in valuation continues to stall the deal
Liverpool, according to a report by The Times published on June 21, 2026, has rejected a new offer from Inter for Curtis Jones, worth around 25 million euros, or approximately 21 million pounds. The Italian club wants to sign the English midfielder during the summer transfer window, but at Anfield the amount offered is considered significantly below the level at which they would be prepared to seriously discuss a sale. According to the same report, Liverpool value Jones at around 35 million pounds, which shows that the gap between the two clubs remains large enough to prevent a quick agreement. The clubs have not officially confirmed the content of the negotiations, so the information currently available is based on reports from British and Italian media. In such circumstances, the case of Curtis Jones remains one of the more interesting deals in the early stage of the summer market, because it combines a sporting question, contractual pressure and different assessments of the player's value.
Jones is a midfielder who carries particular weight in Liverpool's squad because he came through the club's academy and has long been considered one of Anfield's most recognizable homegrown products. Liverpool's official website states that he joined the club at under-nine level, and that he signed a new long-term contract in November 2022. Although the club did not publicly disclose all the financial and time-related details of the contract at the time, specialized databases such as Transfermarkt and Capology state that Jones's current contract expires on June 30, 2027. This means that, viewed from the perspective of June 21, 2026, he is approaching entry into the final twelve months of his contractual obligation. It is precisely this element, according to the available information, that Inter is trying to use in order to lower the price and convince Liverpool that it would be more advantageous this summer to accept a transfer than to risk a further decline in negotiating power.
An offer that did not satisfy Liverpool's valuation
According to The Times, Inter's new offer amounted to around 21 million pounds, or around 25 million euros, but Liverpool concluded that such a package did not reflect Jones's market and sporting value. Italian sources had previously reported that Inter opened negotiations with an initial offer of around 20 million euros, which suggests a gradual increase in the amount, but not a move close to Liverpool's expectations. Football Italia, citing La Gazzetta dello Sport, reported that Inter is determined to continue talks and sees Jones as a realistic target to strengthen the midfield. Nevertheless, according to the British report, Liverpool have so far taken a firm stance and do not want to create the impression that they will accept a significantly lower price simply because the player is entering the final phase of his contract. Such a stance is especially important in the summer transfer window, when opening offers often serve as a test of limits rather than as a final market valuation.
For Liverpool, the problem is twofold. On the one hand, a player whose contract expires in 2027 becomes increasingly difficult to sell for a high price over time, especially if he does not sign an extension. On the other hand, accepting a lower offer too early could send a signal to other interested clubs that Liverpool are under pressure and ready to make concessions. According to the available information, those at Anfield believe that Jones's value is higher than the amount offered because of his age, Premier League experience, European experience and the fact that he can cover several roles in midfield. Such a combination of profile and club status is usually measured not only by the remaining length of the contract, but also by the cost of finding a replacement of similar quality. For that reason, Inter's offer, although financially significant, was not enough to change Liverpool's position.
The contract as the main negotiating pressure
The most important factor in the negotiations is Jones's contract. Liverpool officially announced in November 2022 that the player had signed a new long-term contract, and publicly available specialized databases state that the contract runs until the end of June 2027. If such data is confirmed through the course of the market, Jones will enter the final year of his contract on July 1, 2026, which gives Inter an argument that Liverpool cannot demand a price that would apply to a player tied down by a multi-year contract. Still, the contractual situation does not automatically mean that the selling club must accept the first significant offer. Liverpool can still decide to keep the player for the 2026/27 season, especially if the sporting staff assess that his presence is worth more than the amount currently being offered.
According to reports from England, Liverpool currently do not want to lower their asking price to the level that Inter considers acceptable. Such a position carries risk, because the space for negotiations could shrink as the end of the transfer window approaches. If Jones does not extend his contract, from January 2027 he could, under FIFA's rules on the status and transfer of players, negotiate with clubs outside England about a future move without a transfer fee after the expiry of his contract, because such a window generally opens when a contract expires within six months, although the specific circumstances would depend on the rules in force and the player's status at that time. For that reason, every month without an agreement changes the balance of power. Inter's strategy is probably based precisely on the assessment that time will work in the buyer's favour, while Liverpool are trying to prove that they still have enough sporting reasons to reject lower figures.
Why Jones is worth more than just his contractual situation
Curtis Jones is not merely a player with a contract approaching its final year. The official Premier League profile states that he has so far made more than 150 appearances in the English top flight, with a double-digit return in goals and assists. Liverpool's official club website highlights his long journey through the academy, appearances in the most important competitions and the fact that, as a senior player, he was part of a period in which the club won domestic and European trophies. Such a résumé is important for valuation because this is not an untested talent, but a player who has already experienced the pressure of the Premier League, European matches and competition at a major club. For the buying club, that reduces part of the risk, but for the selling club it strengthens the arguments for a higher price.
Jones's additional value comes from his tactical flexibility. He is primarily a central midfielder, but during his career he has been used in different roles in the middle of the pitch, and occasionally also in positions that require a different profile of movement and defensive tasks. Liverpool, in their own media releases, have previously emphasized his willingness to adapt to the team's needs, a quality that coaches at major clubs particularly value during long seasons. For Inter, who compete in a demanding domestic and European rhythm, such a player can be attractive because he offers squad depth without the need to bring in several specialized reinforcements. For Liverpool, however, that same flexibility means that Jones's departure would not simply be the departure of one reserve midfielder, but the loss of a player who covers multiple scenarios.
In market terms, Liverpool have another reason to take a firm stance. Players developed in their own system often have particular sporting and symbolic value for a club, and in financial terms their sale can have a different accounting effect from the sale of a player who was previously bought for a large transfer fee. But even when the financial calculation is favourable, the sporting side of the deal remains crucial. If Liverpool accepted an offer significantly lower than their own valuation, they would have to explain not only the income, but also the plan to replace a player who knows the club, the league and the expectations of Anfield. That is why the negotiations cannot be reduced solely to the question of how many years remain until the contract expires.
Inter's interest and the wider context of the team
Inter's interest in Jones fits into the broader need of big clubs to have midfielders capable of withstanding high intensity, making quick decisions and adapting to different tactical structures. Inter's official website lists Cristian Chivu as the first-team coach, and the club has continued in the recent period to build a squad that combines experienced leaders with younger or mid-generation players. Within that framework, Jones can be viewed as a player who is experienced enough to compete immediately, but also young enough to retain further market value. According to Italian media reports, Inter are trying to shape the deal in a way that does not exceed their own financial limits. This explains why the Italian club has so far not come close to the amount Liverpool are demanding.
Inter are probably aware in the negotiations that Liverpool's contractual position is not ideal, but also that the English club does not have to hurry if it believes the market will open up to other buyers. Premier League players with Jones's experience often attract interest from other clubs as well, and the mere possibility of competition can change the price dynamics. According to available reports, Inter want to act early in order to avoid an auction, but for precisely that reason Liverpool have no reason to immediately accept an offer that is closer to Inter's initial plan than to their own valuation. In negotiations of this kind, the reputation of the negotiator is also important: a club that gives way too early can find itself in a similar situation in other deals during the same summer.
It is important to emphasize that, for now, there is no official confirmation of a personal agreement between Jones and Inter. The available media reports speak of the Italian club's interest, the amounts offered and Liverpool's rejection, but they do not confirm that the transfer is at an advanced stage. It is common in this phase of the market for talks to be conducted simultaneously through intermediaries, for the player's willingness to be tested and for the financial limit of the selling club to be probed. As long as there is no agreement between the clubs, the question of personal terms remains secondary to the basic problem: Liverpool do not accept the transfer fee offered. For that reason, the current situation is primarily a negotiating deadlock, not a transfer that is merely waiting to be formalized.
What could change the course of the negotiations
Further developments will depend on whether Inter raise their offer towards Liverpool's valuation or try to wait in order to increase the pressure as the end of the transfer window approaches. If Liverpool stick to a figure of around 35 million pounds, Inter will have to decide whether they consider Jones an important enough target to significantly change their initial financial framework. It is also possible that the negotiations could be brought closer through bonuses, a percentage of a future sale or a different payment structure, but such elements have not been officially confirmed. For Liverpool, such a model would be acceptable only if the total value of the deal realistically reflected the club's valuation. For Inter, meanwhile, a structure with variable add-ons could be a way to reduce the initial cost while at the same time keeping alive the chance of an agreement.
Another possibility is that Liverpool try to reopen talks over a contract extension, although the available reports currently do not suggest that such a process is close to a resolution. If Jones were to sign a new contract, Inter's main negotiating argument would be significantly weakened. If there is no extension, Liverpool will have to calculate how much it is worth keeping the player for one more season compared with the risk that his price continues to fall. Such decisions are rarely simple, because they depend on the coach's plans, the state of the squad, available replacements and the club's financial objectives. At this moment, according to the available information, the firmest fact remains that Inter's offer of around 25 million euros is not enough.
Jones's case is therefore a typical example of the modern transfer market, in which a player's value is determined not only by talent and statistics, but also by contract, age, dressing-room status, the buyer's needs and the seller's ability to withstand pressure. Liverpool are currently showing that they do not want to sell below their own valuation, while Inter are trying to take advantage of a moment in which the contract is approaching its final year. If the Italian club wants to complete the deal this summer, the next move will probably have to be significantly more convincing than the one so far. Until then, Curtis Jones remains a Liverpool player, and the negotiations, according to the available information, are open only to the extent that Inter are prepared to move closer to Anfield.
Sources:
- The Times – report on Inter's rejected second offer, Liverpool's valuation and the negotiating context (link)
- Football Italia / La Gazzetta dello Sport – report on Inter's earlier interest and opening offer for Curtis Jones (link)
- Liverpool FC – official announcement of Curtis Jones's new long-term contract from November 2022 (link)
- Liverpool FC – official player profile and overview of his career at the club (link)
- Premier League – official Curtis Jones profile with league data (link)
- Inter – official overview of the first team and coaching staff (link)
- Transfermarkt – publicly available profile with the stated contract expiry date and market value (link)
- FIFA – documentation on the regulations on the status and transfer of players, including contractual provisions (link)