Liverpool Explored Curtis Jones Swap Deal During Inter Milan Negotiations This Summer

Liverpool's big issue, highlighted by many this summer and into the 2026/27 campaign, is the midfield balance, and more specifically, the lack of an out-and-out defensive midfielder shielding the back line when the opposition counters-attack. 

This led to questions about why the club failed to really push for a DM in the summer transfer market, especially when selling Curtis Jones to Inter Milan. 

But did the Reds try to sign a holding midfielder this summer, and did it involve Curtis Jones' exit to Italy?

In terms of outgoings in the summer, there weren't many that brought in any transfer fee for LFC, with the three major ones in Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate all departing the club as free agents.

But one deal that did bring in some money into Anfield was the departure of boyhood Red and academy graduate, Curtis Jones. 

The 25-year-old spent eight seasons in and around the first team at Liverpool, but was never really able to cement his place as a starting XI player under any of the managers the club had during that time.

This led to a growing frustration from the Merseyside born midfielder, who felt he was heading into the prime years of his career and wanted to be an established regular at a top European side. 

That is where Inter Milan came in, they spent weeks deciding internally how much they were going to push for the signature of Curtis Jones, and finally managed to come to an agreement with Liverpool over a deal worth £25.7 million, with a possible £4.3 million in add ons later down the line.

The line that came out from many journalists was that Trey Nyoni was likely to take the minutes vacated by Curtis Jones, and that was the reason why no like-for-like replacement was recruited.

But part of those negotiations with Inter, Andoni Iraola's side reportedly suggested a possible swap deal for one of Inter Milan's brightest young midfielders.

According to Alessio Del Lungo, Liverpool tried to negotiate a swap deal with Curtis Jones going to Inter Milan and 21-year-old defensive midfielder Aleksandar Stankovic heading to Anfield. However, Inter Milan were not interested in a permanent transfer away for Stankovic this summer. 

The report goes on to say that Stankovic loves Inter Milan and loves the city as a whole, so he isn't currently pushing for a move away. But so far this season, the Serbian international has only played 15 minutes in the league across two substitute appearances for the defending Serie A champions.

This is despite the Italian side re-signing Stankovic this summer after a very successful stint at Club Brugge in Belgium.

Inter had sold the 21-year-old for a reported €10 million (£8.5 million) in July 2025, while retaining a buy-back clause in that sale. He would go on to make 55 appearances across all competitions for the Belgian outfit, scoring nine goals and registering 5 assists across the season. 

Inter would then trigger that buy-back clause in June 2026, paying €23 million (£19.7 million) to bring the defensive midfielder back to the club. 

Stankovic is clearly a player Inter Milan value for the future, given they were willing to trigger his buy-back option just one year after letting him leave.

But at the moment, he is not getting the game time that he wants, and no matter how much he loves the city of Milan and the club, he will eventually have to think about his career. Should the opportunity arise for LFC to make a move for the young Serbian, they should be all over it.

He is 6'1", strong physically as well as aerially, averaged 3.59 tackles/interceptions per 90 minutes in the Champions League for Club Brugge and has a brilliant reading of the game. 

Despite the positive start to the campaign for Andoni Iraola's side, the midfield issues still persist, and the addition of a player like Stankovic could go a long way to solving those headaches for the Spanish coach.

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