Fabrizio Romano reveals the ‘benchmark’ impacting Curtis Jones’ Liverpool exit | OneFootball

Curtis Jones, Inter Milan and Liverpool’s Line in the Sand

Curtis Jones Valuation Shows Liverpool’s New Reality

Fabrizio Romano’s latest update on Curtis Jones and Inter Milan speaks to something larger than one midfielder and one Serie A suitor. This is about Liverpool deciding what their players are worth in a market that has long since lost its sense of proportion.

Inter have already had two offers rejected, first around €20 million, then €25 million plus a sell-on clause. Liverpool’s position, reportedly, is closer to £35 million. Given Jones’ age, experience, homegrown status and emotional link to the club, that stance feels entirely logical.

Jones is 25 now. That can still sound strange. He has been around Liverpool for so long that he can feel like a prospect, yet he is entering the years when footballers are expected to stop promising and start defining themselves.

Romano’s Benchmark Matters

Romano explained the thinking clearly on his YouTube channel, pointing to the wider Premier League market as Liverpool’s frame of reference.

“Liverpool are following a very English line of reasoning. In England, Van Hecke, who is a very good central defender for Brighton, but he is still a central defender for Brighton, he is not Maradona, was sold to Tottenham a couple of days ago for 52 million pounds plus 20% of the resale value, which means a valuation well over 60 million euros if we factor in the player’s resale value,” Romano said.

“We’re talking about a centre-back whose contract expires in a year.”

That comparison is doing a lot of work. If Jan Paul van Hecke can command that sort of package, then Liverpool are hardly being unreasonable in demanding serious money for a homegrown midfielder with deep Premier League experience.

Romano added: “Imagine Curtis Jones, who is also a homegrown player, meaning he’s very useful on English clubs’ lists because he grew up in an English youth academy. So this is a situation that leads Liverpool to make much higher demands than Inter’s valuations.”

Inter Milan Need to Move First

Inter’s interest may be genuine, but their offers have not yet matched the seriousness of their intent. The key could be Davide Frattesi, with Nottingham Forest reportedly preparing a bid that may give Inter more financial room.

Until then, Liverpool can wait. There is no need to rush, no need to blink, and certainly no need to accept a fee that suits Inter more than it suits Anfield.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

From a Liverpool fan’s perspective, this feels like one of those situations where the club must be careful not to undersell its own asset.

Curtis Jones divides opinion, and that is fair. He has had brilliant spells, quiet spells, injury interruptions and games where you want more urgency from him. Yet £21.6 million plus a sell-on clause feels light in this market. Very light.

He is not some fringe academy lad being moved on to balance the books. He is a Scouser, a senior squad member, a homegrown player and someone who understands the club in a way very few in this current squad now do. That matters, especially after so much leadership has left.

If Jones wants the move, Liverpool should listen. Players need pathways. But listening is not the same as folding. Inter cannot arrive with bargain-bin offers while Premier League clubs are paying premium fees everywhere else.

At £35 million, there is a conversation. Below that, Liverpool should hold firm.