Curtis Jones gives green light as Inter test Liverpool’s resolve in late-window stunner

Liverpool’s window was meant to be quiet. Instead, it’s erupted. Inter Milan have swooped for Curtis Jones and, per multiple reports, the clubs are in direct talks over a late loan with an option to buy. Sky Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio even claims the midfielder has already nodded along to a San Siro switch. For a side sat sixth in the league and into the Champions League last 16, this would be a massive roll of the dice.

Inter’s move gathers pace

With Inter allowing Davide Frattesi to head out on loan to Nottingham Forest, the Serie A leaders are scrambling for a like-for-like engine in the middle. They’ve landed on Jones — a player Arne Slot has publicly hailed as “a complete midfielder” — and the Italians are pushing hard. Fabrizio Romano says it’s a loan under discussion with an option to buy, while Di Marzio adds that the proposed clause sits around €40m (£34.6m) and that Jones has already given the green light. We’re down to the final 72 hours of the window, and the phone lines are buzzing.

Why this would be a brave call from Liverpool

Jones is under contract until 2027 and, more importantly, he’s been one of the few Liverpool midfielders to hold his form in a patchy campaign. Homegrown, technically sharp, increasingly influential — he’s become a go-to pick in recent weeks at Anfield. Letting him go now, even with an option that looks tempting on paper, feels like asking for trouble when the season’s balance could still tip either way.

The deal on the table

As it stands, it’s a straightforward structure: a loan to the end of the season with a buy option around the €40m mark. Inter get the versatility and control Jones brings, Liverpool get flexibility and (potentially) a tidy profit down the line. But there’s the footballing cost to weigh up. You’re not just swapping out a squad body — you’re potentially removing a rhythm-setting midfielder who links phases and keeps Liverpool on the front foot.

The wider picture at Anfield

Liverpool’s campaign has been uneven. Sixth in the Premier League, but safely into the Champions League knockouts after finishing third in the league-phase table, they’re still alive in every sense — albeit not purring. There are whispers they’ve made contact over a separate move for a “world-class” addition following Jeremie Frimpong’s latest injury setback, but Jones’ situation is the one commanding the spotlight.

What happens next

Inter have made their pitch, the player is reportedly on board, and the clubs are haggling over the fine print. If Liverpool fold, it’s a statement that finance and flexibility trump continuity. If they hold, it’s a nod to the run-in and the value of a homegrown heartbeat. Either way, this one’s teed up to go to the horn.

Fancy a flutter on where Jones ends up? Check the latest markets on the best betting sites — but don’t blink. This saga could turn on a single call.