The deal that was always coming

Fabrizio Romano broke the news on Wednesday that Liverpool and Inter Milan have reached a verbal agreement for Curtis Jones to make the move to Serie A, with a medical already being planned for the Toxteth-born midfielder. The Athletic's James Pearce has described the whole situation as carrying 'a sense of inevitability', and honestly, it's hard to argue with that. There has been a slight discrepancy between outlets as to precisely how far along the deal is, with The Athletic noting that a formal agreement is 'not yet in place', but the destination is clear. Jones is heading to the San Siro.

The writing appeared on the wall earlier than most supporters perhaps realised. Jones didn't feature in Liverpool's recent fixtures against Monaco and Como, and with his contract entering its final twelve months and extension talks having 'long since stalled', the club's hand was effectively forced. You don't leave your only local first-team player out of pre-season matchday squads unless a decision has already been made.

Why Liverpool felt they had little option

Pearce put it plainly in his Athletic piece: 'Losing the only Scouser who is established in [Andoni] Iraola's first-team squad will be a source of regret for many supporters, but with Jones keen to leave, Liverpool had little option but to sanction his exit.' That is the crux of it. When a player is determined to move on and won't sign a new deal, the club are essentially choosing between a fee now or nothing at all in twelve months' time.

Liverpool supporters know this story all too well after this summer. The Reds have already seen several players depart on free transfers in 2025, and the prospect of Jones following that same path would have been deeply frustrating for a club trying to run itself sensibly. Thirty million pounds for a 24-year-old midfielder with Champions League experience is arguably below his true market value, but it beats watching him walk away for nothing in 2026 with the contract winding down and Inter waiting patiently.

The genuine sadness here goes beyond football logistics. Jones is the only Scouser established in the first-team setup, a local lad who came through the academy and made it at the top level. That kind of story matters to this club and to this city, and seeing it end because contract negotiations went nowhere is a frustration supporters are entitled to feel.

What Liverpool need to do next

The practical concern now is what Jones' departure does to the midfield options available to Iraola. The squad's depth in the middle of the park takes a hit, and should any of Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch or Alexis Mac Allister suffer an injury of any real duration, Liverpool's options in that area of the pitch would start to look uncomfortably thin.

Sporting director Richard Hughes has a fortnight left in the transfer window to address it. Finding a replacement for Jones, while also strengthening Liverpool's attack, represents a significant ask in a short space of time. But this is precisely the moment when a sporting director earns his reputation. The foundations of a strong squad are being built, and Hughes needs to ensure one departure does not leave a gap that the season eventually punishes.

It is a bittersweet moment for supporters who grew up watching Jones come through the ranks. The hope now is that the business done before the window closes gives this Liverpool side every reason for optimism heading into what promises to be a compelling campaign.