Inter have made another approach for Curtis Jones and are willing to raise their offer for the Liverpool midfielder to €35m (£30m). The Italian champions had a €25m bid for the 25-year-old rejected in June by Liverpool, who value their homegrown player at closer to €40m.
Jude Bellingham returned to St Andrew's as a spectator to see Birmingham City beat Barcelona on penalties in a pre-season friendly. The England and Real Madrid midfielder (pictured) emerged from Birmingham's academy, making his first-team debut at 16 years old before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2020.
August Priske put Birmingham ahead in the 31st minute, but teenage Barça striker Hamza Abdelkarim levelled from the penalty spot before half-time. Abdelkarim struck again on the hour, reacting fastest after Roony Bardghji's shot was saved. Jhon Solis responded for the hosts, volleying home in the 68th minute.
The game ended 2-2 after 90 minutes, with Birmingham keeper James Beadle saving twice and 17-year-old Barcelona defender Jordi hitting the crossbar. The shootout ended 3-2 to Birmingham as the hosts enjoyed a memorable victory over an admittedly inexperienced Barcelona line-up. Guardian sport
Intermediaries representing Inter have made fresh contact with Liverpool this week and outlined their willingness to go to €35m for a player who has only one year remaining on his contract at Anfield. Whether Liverpool accept that sum is doubtful, but a deal for Jones to leave his boyhood club does appear to be edging closer.
Jones has been unable to establish himself as a regular starter at Liverpool and cut a frustrated figure at times last season under Arne Slot. He was also involved in a row with Dominik Szoboszlai after Wednesday’s win over Wrexham in New York, seemingly over not being handed the captain’s armband when Szoboszlai was substituted during the second half of the friendly.
The new Liverpool head coach, Andoni Iraola, has spoken of the importance of keeping Jones and a local identity at the start of his first season in charge but Inter’s determination to sign the England international, along with the prospect of losing him for free next summer, may well test that resolve.
