Journalist: Liverpool willing to let another star leave on a free transfer

Journalist: Liverpool willing to let another star leave on a free transfer Curtis Jones Contract Stance Raises Fresh Liverpool Questions Curtis Jones, now entering the final year of his deal, is attracting firm interest from Inter Milan. The Serie A champions have already seen approaches turned away, with Liverpool understood to value the midfielder at around £35million. Lewis Steele reported for the Daily Mail : “Liverpool are holding out for £35m for Curtis Jones after rejecting a £21m bid from Inter Milan. They are prepared to let him run down his contract and risk losing him on a free next summer. No talks are active over a new deal but he is set to stay – unless a club stumps up that cash.” That line is significant. Liverpool are not actively pushing Jones out, yet they are also not currently advancing talks over a renewal. In practical terms, that leaves the club in a position of calculated risk. Contract Risk Becomes Familiar Theme Liverpool have already experienced the cost of allowing major assets to reach the end of their contracts. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate both departed on free transfers, and the club will be wary of that becoming a pattern. Jones’ case carries added financial weight. As an academy graduate, any fee received for him would count as pure profit from a Profit and Sustainability Rules perspective. That makes Liverpool’s willingness to let him enter the final year of his deal even more striking. Photo: IMAGO There is logic in refusing to accept £21.7million if the club believe his market value is closer to £35million. Jones is homegrown, technically secure, Premier League proven and still at an age where his best football should be ahead of him. Yet the danger is obvious. If no club meets Liverpool’s valuation this summer, Jones could remain, play a squad role under Andoni Iraola, then leave for nothing in 2027. Iraola Era Needs Clear Decisions With Iraola now in charge, Liverpool are attempting to reshape the squad after a sharp decline in 2025/26 led to Arne Slot’s departure. That process requires clarity. Jones has qualities that should appeal to Iraola. He can press, carry the ball through traffic, retain possession and operate in multiple midfield roles. He also understands the demands of Anfield in a way new arrivals often need time to learn. That makes the lack of active renewal talks harder to read. Either Liverpool believe Jones is replaceable, or they are content to test the market while maintaining a firm public stance. For Inter, the next move is clear. Unless they increase their offer substantially, Liverpool appear willing to hold their nerve. Midfield Future Remains Unsettled This situation also sits alongside wider midfield uncertainty. Alexis Mac Allister’s contract runs until 2028, with no extension talks currently progressing, while Dominik Szoboszlai has also been in discussions without a breakthrough. Jones may not be the headline name in Liverpool’s midfield, but his case could prove instructive. It will show whether the club have learned from recent free transfer losses, or whether they are prepared to gamble again. For now, Liverpool’s message is firm, £35million or no deal. Our View – Anfield Index Analysis From a Liverpool supporter’s perspective, this feels maddeningly familiar. Curtis Jones may divide opinion, but allowing another valuable player to edge towards the exit door for nothing would be poor squad management. We have already watched Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate leave without a fee. That cannot become normal at a club that prides itself on smart planning. The issue is not whether Jones is untouchable. He is not. If Liverpool want to sell, then sell. If Iraola does not see him as central to the next phase, that is football. The frustration comes from drifting into the final year and hoping the market bends to your valuation. £21.7million from Inter may be too low, and Liverpool are right to reject it. But if £35million is the number, there needs to be a proper plan behind it. Either get that fee, extend his deal, or make a clear football decision. Jones is homegrown, experienced and still only approaching his prime years. Letting that walk away for free would be careless. Liverpool need to stop treating contract deadlines like tomorrow’s problem. Supporters have seen how that ends.