Curtis Jones has reportedly prioritised a move to Inter Milan over Aston Villa and Newcastle dealing a blow to Villa’s midfield recruitment plans.
- La Gazzetta dello Sport report Jones favours Inter over both Premier League suitors
- The Liverpool midfielder impressed Inter during a Champions League clash at San Siro in December
- Jones is unlikely to sign beyond June 2027, his contract enters its final year this summer
- Inter previously attempted to sign the 24-year-old in January before negotiations stalled over Dumfries
Curtis Jones chooses Serie A. Villa’s pursuit takes a blow
Aston Villa’s interest in Curtis Jones has been well documented throughout the season, the club identifying the Liverpool midfielder as the ideal replacement for Ross Barkley and a long-term partner for Youri Tielemans in Emery’s engine room. However, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, that pursuit has suffered a significant setback. Jones has reportedly prioritised a move to Inter Milan over both Villa and Newcastle United, with the Serie A champions preparing to make a concrete approach this summer.
The Liverpool academy product’s preference for Italy is understood to stem from the impression Inter made during a Champions League group stage encounter at San Siro in December, a fixture in which Jones delivered an outstanding individual performance that convinced the Nerazzurri’s hierarchy to pursue him as a serious target. His technical quality, progressive ball-carrying, and ability to influence games from a central midfield role aligned precisely with what Inter are seeking to add to their squad.
The January failure. Dumfries was the stumbling block
Inter’s pursuit of Jones is not new. La Gazzetta dello Sport confirms the Nerazzurri attempted to sign the 24-year-old during the January transfer window, only for negotiations to collapse after Liverpool requested that Denzel Dumfries be included as part of the deal. Inter’s reluctance to lose their first-choice right-back mid-season ended the January conversation abruptly.
However, the summer presents a fundamentally different negotiating landscape. Jones enters the final year of his Liverpool contract, with no new deal expected to be signed beyond June 2027. That contractual reality gives Inter, and any other interested party, significant leverage in negotiations. Liverpool face the prospect of losing a homegrown talent for a minimal fee if they do not sell this summer. Inter intend to exploit that situation.
Villa’s alternative. The recruitment plan must adapt
The potential loss of Jones as a target demands an immediate pivot in Villa’s midfield recruitment strategy. Emery has already identified the midfield as the priority area for summer investment, with Onana’s injury record, Barkley’s departure, and the ongoing Douglas Luiz situation all creating genuine and pressing depth requirements ahead of next season’s Champions League campaign.
Tijjani Reijnders reportedly available from Manchester City for £45m, represents the most compelling alternative. The Dutch international’s quality, availability, and Premier League familiarity make him a significantly more ambitious acquisition than Jones, and one that better suits the elite level Villa will be competing at in the Champions League next season.
The broader context. Inter’s double midfield raid
Gazzetta also confirms that Inter’s summer midfield planning extends beyond Jones, with Roma’s Manu Koné identified as the Nerazzurri’s primary target in the middle of the park. Should Inter successfully land both players, they would have assembled one of the most dynamic young midfields in European football: a signal of serious intent from the freshly crowned Serie A champions.
ReadAstonVilla Verdict
Jones choosing Inter is a disappointment, but not a disaster. Villa have Champions League football, a Europa League trophy, and Emery’s reputation to attract elite midfield talent this summer. The Reijnders option is more expensive but considerably more exciting. If Jones wants Serie A, let him go, and invest the budget in a player who genuinely wants to be at Villa Park.
