£35m midfielder desperately wanted for deal | OneFootball

Liverpool could be facing a midfielder summer transfer shakeup.

There has been no shortage of top performers linked with an inward move to Anfield. Alex Scott and Kaishu Sano are the two latest names in the frame as Andoni Iraola plots improvements in the middle.

In order to accommodate any new faces some outgoings will be necessary. The 2024/25 Premier League champions have got a trio of midfielders out of contract in 2027.

Fringe-men Stefan Bajcetic and Harvey Elliott have both got their futures up in the air. Bajcetic could return to Spain where LaLiga side Sevilla are chasing a bargain deal while Elliott could be offloaded to another Premier League club.

Curtis Jones future in jeopardy

But the most profound danger surrounds Curtis Jones.

The 25-year-old was involved in a heated full-time row following the preseason friendly against Wrexham in midweek. It led to speculation that the homegrown playmaker was moving even closer to the exit.

Inter Milan have long coveted the England international - with their interest stretching all the way back to January. The Italian champions have so far failed to meet the £35m asking price for Jones and there is a transfer standoff currently in place.

Inter waiting to sell Frattesi

Inter are waiting to sell Davide Frattesi before making a move for Jones - and do not see the point in paying so much for a player out of contract in one year.

Accordingly the Nerazzurri are biding their time and preparing for a “photo finish” in the transfer race for Jones according to a report in Corriere dello Sport.

The Italian publication claims that Cristian Chivu - Inter’s league title-winning head coach wants to land Jones above all other transfer targets this summer.

Chivu wants Curtis Jones at all costs

“Jones, the only one for whom nothing has changed,” the report reads.

“In the sense that Chivu has wanted him at all costs since the beginning.

“Liverpool's asking price (€40 million), however, remains too high.

“And, in any case, Inter must make room for him, first and foremost by finding a place for Frattesi.

“The deal could come down to a photo finish: the former Sassuolo player is sold, and the Reds are forced to offer a discount to avoid losing Jones for free.”

Frattesi is attracting a certain amount of interest but nothing concrete has yet emerged. It’s believed that Jones has already okayed a deal to join the Milan-based giants on a five-year contract.

This one will go right to the wire with the Scouser playing a full part in Andoni Iraola’s preseason preparations thus far.