Liverpool fans are purring this weekend over the performance of Curtis Jones in the FA Cup fifth-round tie against Wolves.
The Reds won 3-1 on the night with Jones clocking in a near faultless display.
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The 25-year-old midfielder scored one, assisted another and did not give the ball away once – completing 51 passes of 51 at Molineux on Friday night. In doing so Jones served a reminder to Arne Slot – and sporting director Richard Hughes – of his qualities.
Liverpool considered Jones sale
In January it looked likely that the Premier League champions would do a deal for Jones to move to either Tottenham or Inter.
No move was concluded – with the Reds letting journalists know that they weren’t interested in weakening the squad midway through the season.
That may well have been true but there remains a decision to be made over England international Jones.
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A two-time Premier League winner Jones is nonetheless out of contract in summer 2027. No new agreement has yet been reached between Jones’ entourage and the club over a new contract.
And if there is no intention of a new deal being signed then we can expect the playmaker to be moved on this summer.
Jones needs consistency
There is no questioning Jones’ quality – but Slot will be asking himself if we’ve seen enough of it on a regular basis. He has a tendency to mix in ordinary displays with ones like he put in against Wolves.
Against Nottingham Forest a couple of weeks ago Jones exemplified why Liverpool might well be considering an exit. He was sloppy on the ball – ponderous even – and nowhere near the levels he got to on Friday night.
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Jones therefore is running out of chances to convince Slot and Hughes he is worth a new contract – particularly on terms suited to a two-time title-winning England international.
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