He's part of my plans - Slot on Jones' future

CURTIS IN COMPETITION WITH A LOT OF MIDFIELDERS - BUT HE'S A LIVERPOOL PLAYER DESPITE CONTRACT ISSUE

- By PAUL GORST LFC Correspondent

EVEN accounting for the madness that afflicts football in the final hours of a transfer window, the interest in Curtis Jones that was made public late last month raised an eyebrow or two.

Italian giants Inter made their advances known on Friday, January 30 and with Liverpool preparing for a big Premier League match the following evening at home to Newcastle United, it was an approach that was said to have been given the short shrift. The move from the Ner-azurri was never privately dismissed as inaccurate but checks on the reports came with a firm indication that Liverpool had no interest in weakening their squad, particularly so late in the window, with the deadline set for 7pm the following Monday.

Liverpool, in fact, were looking to add to their ranks, with the scramble for defensive cover eventually taking them to RB Leipzig over a deal to move Lutsharel Geertruida. Given Inter were in touch over Jones, however, it is not a massive leap of faith to believe the reports of Denzel Dumfries, the Netherlands international right-back, also featuring in those brief talks.

It would be no surprise if Inter began to cast admiring glances towards Jones after his performance in the San Siro when the Reds inflicted the Italian side's first home Champions League defeat for three years in early December.

If Jones looked at home in the engine room of one of Europe's true cathedrals, however, it will be countered that it is only because of the self-belief he carries when starring for his boyhood club.