Liverpool accused of blocking January transfer as dominoes failed to fall

The Reds midfielder was the subject of late interest from Inter Milan, but the club never even considered that interest; he remains at Anfield and will look to win back his place in the side

Curtis Jones' failed transfer to Inter Milan blocked Davide Frattesi's move to Nottingham Forest(Image: Getty Images)

Soccer agent Giuseppe Riso has revealed how Curtis Jones’ failed move to Inter Milan prevented Davide Frattesi from joining Nottingham Forest during the January transfer window.

The Liverpool midfielder was linked with a late departure from the club, but despite interest from last season’s Champions League finalists, the Reds never considered sanctioning his departure. The Premier League champions were not in a position to sell players in the final throes of the window, with additions to Arne Slot’s depleted squad viewed as the priority.

Jones remained at Liverpool beyond Monday’s deadline and will look to regain his place in the side over the coming weeks. However, Inter’s inability to capture the 25-year-old had ramifications elsewhere.

Jones was seen as a potential replacement for Frattesi, who was in talks to join Forest. That move did not come to fruition, and Riso has revealed that was ultimately down to Liverpool’s stance on Jones.

“There was an approach from Lazio, but then Liverpool wouldn’t let Jones go, so at the end of the day it all ground to a halt,” Riso told Sky Sport Italia.

“Frattesi won’t go to Nottingham Forest either. Inter don’t want to be deprived of his experience at this moment and did not want to go any further in talks.”

Jones has to regain his place in the Liverpool team(Image: Getty Images)

Riso also made headlines on deadline day due to reports linking his client, Sandro Tonali, with a move from Newcastle to Arsenal.

Further reports have suggested that Riso pushed for the move, with the Magpies never willing to sanction his exit.

As for Jones, the Liverpool academy graduate has dropped out of the Liverpool side in recent weeks.

After starting seven games in a row across December and early January, Jones has been named in the starting XI in two of the last seven matches.

He missed Wednesday’s win over Qarabag, and in the 4-1 victory over Newcastle last weekend, it was notable how much quicker Liverpool moved the ball in possession.

Asked about Jones after the game, Slot said: “I think there’s always a lot of talk about Liverpool and Liverpool players

“There was a lot of noise around the club the last week or, should I say weeks, but today our fans showed what noise really means. That is being loud.

“They were so helpful today; that is what noise here is in Liverpool. We are trying to strengthen the squad and not trying to weaken it.”