Liverpool's Transfer Strategy: Curtis Jones Linked with Inter Milan

Liverpool’s summer rebuild has already changed the shape of their squad. Now it could claim a homegrown midfielder – with Newcastle potentially holding the key.

Inter circle as Liverpool soften stance on Curtis Jones

Three new faces have arrived at Anfield: Jeremy Jacquet, Ronald Araujo and Victor Munoz. Araujo, the headline addition, has come in from Barcelona on loan with a €55m option to buy, shoring up a defence that needed depth. With that box ticked, Liverpool have turned their gaze to the flanks.

PSG duo Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye are the wide targets being pursued. If both deals land, the knock-on could be significant. Tottenham are watching closely, ready to move for Cody Gakpo should Liverpool open the door.

The outgoing traffic might not stop there. The Athletic recently flagged Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa and Curtis Jones as players who could depart before the window shuts. For Jones, the timing is brutal. At 25, he has entered the final year of his contract, and there are no talks under way about an extension.

Inter Milan have been hovering for months. The Serie A champions tried to prise Jones away in January and have come back again this summer, only to see two bids knocked back, the highest at €30m. Liverpool were initially thought to be holding firm at €40m–€45m.

That stance is shifting.

Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano reports that Inter now believe Liverpool will deal at €35m – around £30m. On X, Romano wrote that Inter have kept Jones as a “priority target” since May and now feel a deal “could happen” at that fee. The Italian club are ready to go again, but only once they clear space in midfield.

That brings Davide Frattesi into play.

Newcastle’s midfield hunt could unlock Anfield exit

Inter want to move Frattesi on before launching what they hope will be a decisive offer for Jones. The club waiting in the wings? Newcastle United.

Newcastle’s midfield has been ripped open by the sale of Bruno Guimaraes to Arsenal for £75m. They did not want to lose him, but the clause was there and Arsenal paid. Now they need reinforcements, fast.

TEAMtalk revealed on Tuesday that Newcastle have been offered Frattesi, the 26-year-old Italy international. He is not the first name on their list. Their pursuit of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg ended in an embarrassing rejection, while another long-term target, Joao Palhinha, is on course to join Aston Villa.

So the market has pushed them towards Frattesi. He is available, he is proven at the top level, and Inter’s asking price sits at around €30m, roughly £26m.

If Newcastle decide to move, the dominoes line up neatly. Frattesi leaves Inter. Inter bank the fee and return to Liverpool with a new bid, this time closer to the €35m Liverpool are now believed to accept. Curtis Jones, a boyhood Red, suddenly faces a very real decision about leaving Anfield for the Italian champions.

Liverpool, meanwhile, would have their funds and their foreign slots freed up to drive on with the Barcola and Mbaye pursuits – and potentially trigger Gakpo’s route to Spurs.

One transfer rarely stands alone at this level. This one might end up defining three midfields, across three leagues, before the window slams shut.