Inter CEO concedes 'significant gap' between valuations for Liverpool midfielder Jones

Inter remain interested in signing Liverpool's Curtis Jones, but Nerazzurri CEO Piero Ausilio conceded there is a "significant gap" between the two clubs' valuation of the midfielder.

Jones is entering the final year of his contract at Anfield, with the Reds reportedly open to a move rather than letting him leave for free when his existing deal expires.

In January, Inter saw an offer to sign Jones on loan for the remainder of the season – with the option to buy – rejected.

Liverpool also turned down the Nerazzurri's recent offer of £21.7m (€25m) for the England international, who is valued at around £35m (€40m) by the Reds.

"I've never denied that we like Curtis Jones," Ausilio said. "He has the qualities that could give us something extra. But there's a significant gap between our valuation and Liverpool's.

"Liverpool have every right to ask for what they believe is a fair price, and we have every right to decide whether that works for us or not. As things stand, I'd say it's very difficult."

Two-time Premier League winner Jones, who joined Liverpool as a nine-year-old, came through the ranks before making 228 first-team appearances for the Reds, scoring 22 goals.

The 25-year-old played 34 times in the Premier League last season, with Alexis Mac Allister (37), Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch (both 36) the only Liverpool midfielders to appear more often.

Jones also recorded the third-most successful passes (1,509) among Liverpool midfielders, while only Szoboszlai (187) won possession more often than him (144).