Liverpool are set for a major overhaul of their midfield this summer as Jurgen Klopp's side look to bounce back from a disappointing season that saw them fail to qualify for the Champions League.
James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita have all departed on free transfers, while World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister has been signed from Brighton. Liverpool have been linked with a host of other midfielders, including Nicolo Barella, Ryan Gravenberch and Khephren Thuram.
However, the Reds could save millions if 22-year-old midfielder Curtis Jones can step up to the plate next season. Jones made his first-team debut in 2019 and has gone on to make almost 100 appearances for the Reds.
Klopp hailed him as "top-class" after an impressive display in the Champions League against Porto in 2021, but Jones' progress stalled last season. Jones missed more than two months of action at the start of the season through injury and was also sidelined in November, December and February with a stress problem in his right tibia.
He did finish the season strongly though, starting all of Liverpool's final 11 Premier League games and making four goal contributions. Jones has looked to build on that form this summer with England's U21s as they look to win the Euros.
Last summer, England U21s boss Lee Carsley demanded more from Jones while praising his "quality", urging him to "be the best player every day, every game". Carsley said: "It's important to me that Curtis doesn't play within himself.
"He's got to be the best player every day, every game. I think he can score more, I think he can assist more. When he gets in front of goal, he's got that quality.
"He needs to show it on a regular basis, consistently, for us. You'd like to have this conversation at the end of the camp where you're swooning about him, saying 'what a player'. I still think he's building his reputation with the Under 21s in that respect."
Jones put in a stellar display in England's 2-0 win over Israel on Sunday, with fans roundly praising his performance and in particular a defence-splitting pass to Noni Madueke. Having ended a difficult season strongly, Jones looks set for a more important role at Anfield next season and, should he avoid suffering further setbacks with injury, he appears ready to step up to the plate.
