Darren Bent suggests 22-year-old Liverpool player could be at risk of being dropped next season

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Curtis Jones is unlikely to keep his place in the Liverpool team once new signings are brought in this summer.

That’s according to TalkSPORT pundit Darren Bent. Speaking on the radio station last night, Bent praised Jones for his two-goal display at Leicester City on Monday. However, the former England striker went on to say that if Liverpool bring in the likes of Mason Mount this summer, Jones will likely find himself back on the bench.

“Two good goals, the second goal, touch, wap! Great finish, but he’s always had good technique Curtis Jones, good player,” said Bent. “I still think they need to strengthen, they still need to go and get a big one in there.

“You still need an established one in there, you look at Liverpool’s midfield compared to other midfields. Arsenal being linked with Caicedo, Declan Rice with Odegaard, look at that three compared to Liverpool’s.

“They’d probably start Mason Mount over Curtis Jones. Just because Mount’s played in the Premier League, been successful in the Premier League, won some big trophies by the way, Champions League things like that. I think Mount would start ahead of him. But Jones is showing signs that he can be a mainstay in the middle of the park.”

Jones ready to fight for midfield place

This shouldn’t be a controversial take from Bent. Most Liverpool fans would probably agree that Jones won’t extend his current run in the side into next season.

A big midfield rebuild this summer has been on the cards for a long time now. The 22-year-old’s brilliant form is very welcome, but it doesn’t change that fact. The point still remains that Liverpool need a minimum of two new starting midfielders in the transfer market.

If one of those ends up being Mount, then he’ll definitely come into the side ahead of Jones.

Of course, everyone will be given the chance to prove themselves in pre-season. Curtis clearly also has plenty of credit in the bank, especially given the way he’s ended the season.

But if a midfield player is brought in for anything between £40m and £70m, they’re likely to be more-or-less assured of a place in the starting XI. As Bent suggests, in that scenario they would likely be a more experienced player than Jones, anyway. In Mount’s case specifically, you’d have to say that that would be the case.

Jones can still be an important player without being a nailed-on starter, though. At twenty-two he’s still young enough to develop in that way.

Obviously, Curtis could prove us wrong and kick-on to be a full time starting XI player. We hope that he does. Keep playing the way he is and he’s giving himself a chance.