Journalist hints that Liverpool could yet sign a midfielder this summer

Journalist hints that Liverpool could yet sign a midfielder this summer Curtis Jones Exit Leaves Liverpool Weighing Midfield Move Under Andoni Iraola Liverpool head into the opening weekend of the Premier League with a fresh coaching era, a reshaped squad and another key decision to make in the transfer market. Andoni Iraola will take charge of his first league match against Newcastle on 23 August, and while attention has naturally centred on the new head coach, the next phase of recruitment already looks to be taking shape. One of the clearest developments concerns Curtis Jones. As first detailed by Paul Gorst for The Liverpool Echo , the long-running possibility of the midfielder leaving Anfield now appears close to being resolved, with Inter Milan moving towards completion of a £30 million deal. For Liverpool, this is less about a surprise departure and more about a decision that has become increasingly necessary with the contract situation reaching its final year. IMAGO | Anfield Index Midfield decision grows more urgent Jones has been part of Liverpool for two decades and his exit would remove a homegrown option who has offered tactical flexibility across midfield. In itself, that does not automatically trigger a major market move, but context matters. Liverpool have already had to absorb significant change this summer, with Mohamed Salah and Ibrahima Konate departing, and the squad remains in transition under a new voice on the training ground. That is why the next step is so important. The key question is whether Liverpool view Jones as a player to be directly replaced, or whether they believe the answer already exists internally. As Gorst wrote, “It’s unclear at this stage if Liverpool are planning to replace Jones with a more experienced midfielder or give 19-year-old Trey Nyoni the opportunity of more minutes after an impressive pre-season campaign under Iraola,” he wrote. That line captures the balance Liverpool must strike. Nyoni is clearly admired and has enhanced his standing over pre-season, but relying on a teenager for meaningful Premier League minutes carries a degree of risk, particularly in a side aiming to quickly establish new habits under Iraola. Trey Nyoni option offers promise There is a strong argument for succession planning from within. Liverpool have invested heavily in elite young talent and Nyoni looks one of the most exciting midfielders in that group. His composure, athleticism and personality suggest he can contribute sooner rather than later. The issue is not whether he has potential, it is whether Liverpool want potential to carry too much weight too early. That matters even more because the midfield did not consistently impose itself last season. Liverpool had numbers in that department, yet control, balance and reliability were not always there often enough. Dominik Szoboszlai shouldered major responsibility, while Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch were unable to fully command the central areas across the campaign. If the club had already been considering a midfield addition before Jones moved closer to the exit, his departure only sharpens the requirement. Transfer strategy may now shift Names such as Adam Wharton and Angelo Stiller have circulated in recent weeks, and Liverpool’s recruitment team will almost certainly have alternatives beyond the public discussion. Whether they act may depend on budget, timing and how they assess the current pecking order under Iraola. Yet if £30 million is banked from Jones’ sale, it would be logical for some of that to be redirected towards a central midfielder capable of adding maturity and consistency. Liverpool do not necessarily need a blockbuster arrival, but they do need clarity. A coach beginning a new cycle benefits from players who can execute his demands immediately, especially in the middle of the pitch where structure and tempo are set. If the market presents the right profile, this feels like a sensible moment to move. For now, Jones’ likely departure leaves Liverpool with a choice that will reveal plenty about Iraola’s early squad planning, trust in youth and priorities for the closing weeks of the window. Our View From a supporter perspective, this is one of those moments that feels bigger than a single outgoing transfer. Curtis Jones leaving would be emotional because he is one of our own, but it also puts the spotlight firmly on what Liverpool want this midfield to look like under Andoni Iraola. There is genuine excitement around Trey Nyoni, and fans will always want academy talent to break through, especially a player with his poise and ceiling. But there is a difference between giving a youngster opportunities and asking him to solve a squad issue. Liverpool need to be careful not to confuse the two. The concern is simple. Too often last season the midfield lacked authority. There were flashes of quality, and Szoboszlai carried plenty, but the unit did not always control games in the way title-challenging sides must. If Jones goes and nobody arrives, it risks placing even more pressure on players who already had mixed campaigns. What many fans will want is a smart signing, someone reliable, positionally sharp and ready to contribute from day one. That does not have to mean a headline name or a £100 million splash. It means getting the profile right. If Liverpool can add experience while still giving Nyoni a pathway, that feels like the ideal outcome. This report makes the next move in midfield feel less like a luxury and more like a necessity.