Liverpool have rejected a verbal offer of 25m euros (£21.7m) from Inter Milan for Curtis Jones – a bid well short of the £35m valuation that has made the club unwilling to sanction a cut-price exit for the midfielder. The 25-year-old, who only has one year left on his current Anfield deal, has now been the subject of two failed approaches from the Italian side this year, after a January loan with a view to a transfer was also turned down.
Inter's sporting director, Piero Ausilio, said of Jones: "We are paying attention to him. We didn't hide. We understand what the developments will be." Federico Chiesa went as far as telling Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport that Jones asked him what it is like to live in Italy.
“Liverpool reject Inter's £21.7m Jones bid while signing Victor Munoz and offering £86m for Yan Diomande.”
While the Jones saga continues, Liverpool have moved decisively in the other direction, confirming the signing of Spain winger Victor Munoz from Osasuna after triggering his 40m euro (£34.5m) release clause. The 22-year-old, who made his international debut in March and is part of Spain's World Cup squad, underwent his medical in the United States on Wednesday. He can play on both wings and will sign a six-year deal, with the fee paid in two instalments.
Munoz, described by La Liga expert Phil Minshull as "one of the pearls of Spanish football" who has an excellent work-rate in attack and defence, becomes Liverpool's first signing since Andoni Iraola replaced Arne Slot as head coach earlier this month. He is a graduate of Barcelona's La Masia academy and went on to make two brief substitute appearances for Real Madrid before moving to Osasuna in July 2025 for 5m euros. Madrid retained a 50% sell-on clause and a matching rights option, but concerns over regular playing time under Jose Mourinho made a return a non-starter for Munoz. Barcelona also showed interest before they signed Anthony Gordon from Newcastle, and Newcastle themselves were in advanced talks to sign Munoz after selling Gordon to Barcelona – but Liverpool hijacked the move.
The Reds have also told RB Leipzig that they will pay a package worth about 100m euros (£86m) for 19-year-old Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande, who is also at the World Cup. Paris St-Germain are in the race but are yet to make an offer, leaving Liverpool in pole position. However, Leipzig want more than the package offered and have no desire to see the teenager leave in this window – though there is an understanding that if Diomande performs well at the World Cup, his transfer value could increase, and a package in excess of 130m euros (£112m) would change their stance. Diomande scored 12 goals and provided eight assists in the Bundesliga last season.
With Jones entering the final year of his contract, the offer from Inter – while rejected – highlights the growing uncertainty around the academy graduate who joined Liverpool at age nine. For now, the club's focus remains on adding new talent: Munoz has signed, Diomande is the target, and the message to Inter is clear – Jones will not be leaving on the cheap.