Unai Emery is reportedly prepared to test Liverpool’s resolve with a summer move for Curtis Jones. As Arne Slot grapples with a “sell-to-buy” policy and a squad overhaul at Anfield, Villa are poised to strike for the versatile midfielder to bolster their 2026/27 ambitions.
- The 25-year-old has just over 12 months left on his current Liverpool contract
- Contract talks have stalled. Jones is braced for a departure from Anfield
- Inter Milan, Newcastle United and Tottenham have all been linked
Jones braces for Anfield exit and Villa lead the race
Curtis Jones’ situation at Liverpool has reached a critical point. The 25-year-old England international, a product of the Reds’ academy and a player with deep personal ties to his hometown club, is now preparing to leave Anfield this summer.
Contract negotiations have stalled, his current deal expires in 2027, and sources have confirmed that the midfielder is bracing himself for a significant career change.
According to TEAMtalk, Villa are now positioning themselves as frontrunners in the race to secure his signature. The Midlands club is determined to keep the central midfielder in the Premier League and is preparing to make a concrete move ahead of competitors including Inter Milan, Newcastle United, and Tottenham Hotspur.
Inter explored a deal in January but were unsuccessful. The summer window looks to be a very different story.
The Villa-Liverpool connection
Villa and Liverpool have a notable recent history in the transfer market. Last summer’s deal that brought Harvey Elliott to Villa Park represented a significant transaction between the two clubs.
While that move has not fully delivered on expectations to date, the young Englishman has struggled to establish himself as a consistent starter under Emery, sources indicate that relations between the two Premier League clubs remain firmly intact.
That existing working relationship could prove important in facilitating a potentially complex summer deal. Liverpool are planning a significant midfield reshuffle, with both Jones and Alexis Mac Allister identified as players most likely to depart as part of that overhaul.
Consequently, Villa’s early positioning and existing Anfield connection may well prove to be decisive advantages in what is becoming a highly competitive pursuit.
Why Jones fits Emery’s system
The 25-year-old’s profile aligns precisely with what Villa’s midfield has lacked at various points this season.
Jones has scored two goals and registered two assists across 43 appearances for Liverpool this season: a return that underscores his consistent availability and tactical versatility within Arne Slot’s system.
The campaign has consistently tested Villa’s central midfield depth. A technically accomplished, Premier League-proven English midfielder at 25 years old represents exactly the profile that Emery is searching for.
Villa must move with real intent
Liverpool’s midfield rebuild is going to reshape multiple summer transfer stories, and Villa’s early work on the Jones front shows recruitment intelligence at its sharpest.
The Midlands club have the connection, the project, and the Champions League pitch to land this one. Time to deliver.
