Inter Milan's Struggle for Curtis Jones Amidst Liverpool's High Valuation

Inter Milan have run head-first into the hard edge of Liverpool’s valuation of Curtis Jones – and nobody in Italy can quite believe the numbers being quoted.

The Serie A champions have now seen two bids pushed back without hesitation, despite the midfielder giving the green light to a move and privately accepting that his Liverpool career is nearing its end.

Player says yes, Liverpool say no

Inter’s interest is not new. They explored a deal in January, liked what they saw, and came back this summer with Jones firmly on their shortlist. The 25-year-old has responded in kind, making it clear that Inter is his preferred destination and that he sees his future away from Anfield.

The Italians opened last week with an offer in the region of £18m. Liverpool barely blinked before rejecting it.

Inter returned with an improved package of around £21m. Same response. Same speed. The gap between the clubs, sources say, remains “significant”.

That is despite Jones entering the final 12 months of his contract and despite his stance: he wants Inter. He is not pushing for a move elsewhere in England and is not shopping himself around the Premier League.

Liverpool dig in on a £35m price

Inside Anfield, the logic is straightforward. Liverpool value Jones at around £35m and are standing firm. They believe the current English market, swollen by big-money domestic deals – including Manchester City’s plans to spend over £120m on Elliot Anderson – supports that figure, even with Jones’ contract running down.

Club figures point to the premium on homegrown English talent. Jones, an academy graduate, is still viewed as a player of real quality and resale value, not a cast-off to be moved on cheaply in the final year of his deal.

Inter see it very differently.

From their side, Liverpool’s insistence on using Premier League benchmarks in a cross-border negotiation is baffling. There is no domestic auction. There is no rival English club driving up the price. There is one serious suitor: Inter.

In their eyes, that matters. So does the clock on his contract. With only a year left, Inter believe Liverpool’s negotiating position is weaker than the fee suggests and that the asking price must drop if a deal is to be done.

Jones caught in the middle

Those close to Jones lean closer to the Italian view than Liverpool’s. His camp are understood to consider a fee below £30m as a fair middle ground, one that reflects both his ability and his contractual situation.

That number sits far nearer to Inter’s offers than Liverpool’s demands. And the player’s intentions are not in doubt.

Jones is excited by the chance to join the reigning Italian champions. He sees Inter as the right step at the right time, a club competing for major honours where he can relaunch his career in a different tactical environment.

His outlook at Liverpool is less bright. He started only 18 Premier League games in the 2025/26 season and, under new manager Andoni Iraola, there are serious questions over how well he fits the high-energy, relentless style now expected in midfield.

He is respected at the club, but not guaranteed minutes. No one around the squad expects his role to suddenly expand under Iraola. That reality has hardened his desire to move to San Siro and take control of the next phase of his career.

Stalemate with room to move

For now, it is a stand-off. Liverpool are open to selling but refuse to do so at what they view as a discount for one of their own academy products. Inter, meticulously planning this move for months, remain convinced Jones wants them and are in no mood to walk away.

There is still a sizeable gap between the valuations. Yet both sides know the situation cannot drift forever. Jones wants out. Inter want him in. Liverpool want the market to pay what they believe he is worth.

Further talks are expected as the window unfolds. One of them will have to blink.