Liverpool have turned down Inter Milan’s reported €25 million offer for Curtis Jones as the clubs remain apart on valuation. The bid was described by The Athletic as a “verbal offer” and came significantly short of the fee Liverpool are seeking.

The Reds are believed to want roughly €40 million, using the fee Tottenham Hotspur paid Atlético Madrid for Conor Gallagher in January as a benchmark. Inter’s interest in Jones dates back to the January window, when Liverpool rejected an initial proposal for a loan with an option to buy.

Reports say Inter’s latest approach was “instantly rebuffed” and that Liverpool intend to stand firm on their valuation, making a deal this summer unlikely. It is understood the club would prefer to risk the possibility of losing Jones for free next summer rather than accept a cut-price sale now.

That stance is influenced by recent departures. This summer Liverpool allowed Ibrahima Konaté, Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah to leave without recouping a transfer fee. Trent Alexander-Arnold departed the club for around €10 million ($11.5 million) a year ago, as part of an agreement to join Real Madrid before his contract expired.

Jones, 25, is under contract until 2027, making this summer the last realistic chance to generate a significant transfer fee for the midfielder. The club’s accounting context also factors in. Under the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules, the sale of an academy graduate would count as “pure profit” on the books, a financial reality that has influenced discussions.

A local figure at Anfield, Jones joined the club at the age of nine and has made well over 200 senior appearances since his debut in 2019. He is a six-cap England international, has captained the side on more than one occasion and is valued for his versatility and tidy possession play. Some outlets, including Gazzetta dello Sport, claim Jones views his time at Liverpool as already over, but at present the club’s position makes an immediate transfer unlikely.

Víctor Muñoz completed a surprise transfer to Liverpool following a breakout season at Osasuna, a move that came despite Newcastle United being in pole position. Liverpool hijacked the deal for $46 million (€40 million), the club’s first official signing under new boss Andoni Iraola. Muñoz will return from representing Spain at the 2026 World Cup and face the familiar challenges of a new country, league and team, and possibly a new shirt number.

Muñoz most recently wore 21 during his debut campaign with Osasuna. The 21 shirt is technically available at Liverpool after Konstantinos Tsimikas left it vacant when he joined Roma on loan. Tsimikas is expected to return to Merseyside, but his future in red remains uncertain. There is a reality in which he could be on his way out this summer, but reports suggest Tsimikas wants to stay and compete with Milos Kerkez for minutes in the final year of his contract. Should he get his wish, he could once again wear 21.

At Real Madrid, Muñoz has worn several numbers. He had brief first-team appearances wearing 44, which he only wore four times. He spent more time with Real Madrid Castilla wearing 23 and 9. The 23 shirt is available at Anfield after Luis Díaz moved to Bayern Munich, while the 9 is currently owned by Alexander Isak.

For Spain, the 22-year-old dons the 25 shirt, which belongs to Giorgi Mamardashvili at Liverpool. Muñoz’s choices were constrained by La Liga rules that require first-team players to wear numbers between 1 and 25; that restriction explains why players sometimes change numbers when they move between leagues. The winger’s shirt decision at Liverpool will be resolved after his return and as the squad settles under Iraola.

Liverpool remain intent on recruiting a long-term successor to Mohamed Salah and have opened talks over Yan Diomande. Leipzig, however, are resisting a sale and are pushing to extend Diomande’s contract. To accept a transfer, the German club would insist on “significantly more” than Liverpool’s opening proposal, which the Reds submitted largely to “test the waters”.

The Daily Mail state Liverpool are set to return with an improved bid, but Leipzig will watch Diomande’s World Cup displays closely and may boost their valuation accordingly. That approach is already proving effective.

Diomande’s tournament with Côte d’Ivoire is just beginning, but he made a strong impression in the 1–0 victory over Ecuador. On the night his quick feet and direct dribbling stood out. No player had more touches in the opposition box than Diomande (12), while his five chances created led the game. He troubled an Ecuador defence containing PSG’s Willian Pacho and Arsenal’s Piero Hincapié.

Match metrics from that appearance:
Minutes played: 90
Chances created: 5
Dribble success: 67% (4/6)
Touches in opposition box: 12
Expected goals and assists (xG + xA): 0.54
Ground duels won: 73% (11/15)

Leipzig officials will welcome the possibility that continued form raises interest and transfer value. The club has adjusted its strategy recently by attempting to keep key players on fresh contracts while remaining open to sales for the right fee. That could mean holding Diomande to a new deal and negotiating a move later on more favourable terms.

Relations between the two clubs are described as strong. The presence of Jürgen Klopp in the Red Bull hierarchy is noted as a further link that should aid constructive talks, and both sides are expected to conduct negotiations amicably as the window progresses.