The future of Curtis Jones has been one of the main talking points at Liverpool during the 2026 summer transfer window.
Jones has been heavily linked to Inter Milan, with transfer chief Richard Hughes even meeting with the Serie A side to discuss a move.
Of course, a change in manager could have some impact on the player’s future, but Andoni Iraola will have to start playing the midfielder a lot more than Arne Slot did in 2025/26 if he wants him to stay.
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He already sounds like the opposite of Arne Slot!
Curtis Jones needs to start in midfield more, but that could hurt Liverpool
Speaking at his first press conference as Liverpool manager this week, Iraola expressed his desire to keep Jones.
He said: “I rate Curtis very highly. For me he is a great player. It’s very important he’s Scouse, that he’s from here. I also like the personality. I hope we can keep him, not only for this year, more time.”
Would it be nice to have a Scouser in the team next year? Of course, especially as Trent Alexander-Arnold has already left the club.
But kind words from Iraola at a time when he is doing his best to win over a fanbase who were incredibly disgruntled last season won’t be enough to keep hold of Jones.
It was already covered in April that while Jones would prefer to stay at Liverpool this summer, he would do so ‘if he could be the main man’.
What would you do with Curtis Jones this summer?
What exactly does that mean? Well, it doesn’t mean a repeat of 2025/26, which saw Jones hardly ever starting as a midfielder and only really getting regular starts when he was played out of position at right-back towards the end of the campaign.
So, it seems clear that Iraola will have to promise the Englishman a regular place in the eleven moving forward.
But would that actually help or hinder Liverpool? Reds fans questioned Jones at times last season, with his inability to release the ball quickly a major cause for concern.
Jamie Carragher was similarly critical, suggesting the midfielder spends too long on the ball and slows play down as a result.
So, it does feel like Iraola is stuck between a rock and a hard place. He can either give Jones more minutes next season and risk making Liverpool look weaker and slower in the centre of the pitch. Or, he can tell the player he won’t be a regular starter, which would probably mean he decides to leave this summer.
Either way, it feels like some fans won’t be happy no matter the outcome.
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