Liverpool 'frustrated' over Curtis Jones transfer plan as second Inter bid rejected

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Liverpool have turned down a second bid from Inter Milan for Curtis Jones. The Reds have rebuffed a £21million offer from the Serie A heavyweights, according to the Times .

The proposal falls considerably short of Liverpool's valuation of Jones, with reports suggesting the Merseyside club's top brass are becoming increasingly frustrated by Inter's repeated approaches below their valuation. The Reds do not consider the Italian side to be serious contenders for the midfielder's signature, such is the gulf in how the two clubs value Jones.

Jones, 25, is priced at £35m by the Reds, with the club maintaining that this represents fair market value following Conor Gallagher's move to Tottenham from Atletico Madrid in January for a comparable fee. Liverpool also rejected an approach from Inter during the winter window, when the Italian outfit had hoped to secure a loan deal with a view to a permanent transfer.

The Anfield academy graduate has just one year left on his current deal , with no negotiations over a fresh contract presently underway . Despite this, sporting director Richard Hughes is said to have little appetite for further discussions with Inter after the club indicated they would not exceed £21.7m.

With a new deal looking unlikely, speculation surrounding Jones' future shows no sign of abating. Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey believes a move to Serie A could help Jones fulfil his potential.

"I'd be very surprised if he's not pushing for a new contract," Heskey told LiveFootballTickets. "So there's something there that tells me that they're not willing to offer him what he wants.

"They're either not willing to offer him a new contract or they're not willing to offer him what he wants in that contract. He's got ambitions to be a regular England player. So he needs to be playing regularly, and I think he can become a regular England player but he needs to be playing regularly at his club.

"I think if Liverpool can't give him that I think he then looks at other pastures. You look at Scott McTominay (at Napoli) who has gone on to play in Italy and he's been lauded for it.

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"He's actually changed the way people look at him as a footballer, and I think Curtis has got the ability to do that. He's got so much ability to lead and he could play in several different positions."

In more encouraging news for Liverpool, RB Leipzig and Ivory Coast sensation Yann Diomande has opened up about the prospect of a Premier League switch. Liverpool have informed Leipzig they are prepared to table a bid of up to £86m for the 19-year-old.

"Would I be open to the Premier League? I don't know," Diomande said. "I am an RB Leipzig player, but why not? My agents will sort that out.

"As for me I am more focused on the World Cup, that's the most important thing. It doesn't happen all the time, it's only every four years, so I am making the most of it and for the rest, we'll see."