Curtis Jones ‘only wants Inter’: talks with Liverpool continue as the gap narrows

Inter’s midfield search is starting to take a clearer shape — and Curtis Jones is moving to the front of the queue.

As outlined in reports from Gazzetta dello Sport, the English midfielder has made Inter his preferred destination, with indications that he does not want to move to another Premier League club despite interest from within England. Inter, meanwhile, have kept the dialogue open with Liverpool, and the distance between the clubs is described as bridgeable, even if patience will be required.

Why Inter are prioritising Jones

The logic behind Inter’s focus is both technical and financial.

On the pitch, Jones is seen as a midfielder who can add tempo, ball circulation, and passing quality — a “thinker” profile rather than a purely explosive mezzala. In Chivu’s system, he could:

• cover the regista role when Çalhanoğlu is unavailable, and/or

• play as an interior midfielder, providing depth behind Barella and Zieliński

Off the pitch, his contract situation is what makes the deal attractive. With limited time left on his Liverpool deal (as described in the report), Inter believe the price should be lower than other targets — especially compared to Manu Koné, whose situation is portrayed as blocked by Roma’s high asking price.

Negotiations: offer, counter-position, and the sell-on clause

Inter’s first concrete move, per the text, was a proposal of €20m plus bonuses. Liverpool’s response was negative, with the English side holding a line closer to €30m.

A key sticking point is also the structure:

• Inter want the fixed fee to stay controlled

• Liverpool are pushing for protection through a future sell-on percentage, and may accept a lower guaranteed figure if that percentage rises

This is the type of negotiation that often ends in the middle: a deal that trends toward €25m overall, with bonuses and/or a sell-on clause used to close the gap.

January context and why this time could be different

The same operation was close months ago. But the earlier negotiation reportedly cooled after Liverpool explored alternative terms — including the idea of Dumfries as part of a proposal.

Now, however, Inter’s wider market picture is evolving. The reports frame an Inter summer that is shaped by planned exits and an Oaktree-defined budget, with player sales still expected to unlock reinforcements.

That’s why Jones’ profile becomes even more appealing: a high-level midfielder at a potentially discounted price, if Liverpool accept the right formula.

The broader Inter plan: midfield + defender, funded by exits

The GdS framing is that Inter’s roadmap is set regardless of outgoing names:

• potential departures are still being evaluated (Dumfries, Frattesi, Luis Henrique mentioned)

• if Bisseck leaves, Inter would sign another defender

• the objective is to stay within a €50m budget while improving the squad’s overall balance

Within that plan, Jones is described as the preferred midfield target — ahead of Koné — because the deal is considered more feasible.

ForzaIM take

When a player’s camp signals “only Inter,” that’s not a guarantee — but it’s a meaningful advantage in negotiations, especially when multiple clubs could be interested. Inter’s job now is to convert preference into an agreement: fee, bonuses, and sell-on terms that satisfy Liverpool without breaking Inter’s internal budget logic.

If the clubs can land near that €25m zone, this has the ingredients of a deal that accelerates quickly.