Nottingham Forest are currently in contention to sign Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones, with new updates regarding his future at Anfield.
Jones could be called up as a direct replacement for Elliott Anderson, given that England international Jones agreed a move to Manchester City while in North America for the World Cup.
Man City have agreed a fee widely reported to be £116m, and Tricky Trees should have enough money to bring in a replacement, with his sights set on Liverpool’s Jones.
The 25-year-old, who has been hailed by scout Jacek Krig for his “incredible work-rate”, has just one year left on his Anfield contract, meaning the Reds are prepared to get their money’s worth this summer.
Football Fancast Verdict | |
|---|---|
reliability | Given Anderson’s impending departure, Forest certainly need to sign at least one new midfielder this summer. The England star did not miss a single Premier League game last season and won possession 306 times, 94 more than any player in Europe’s top five leagues. |
finances | Liverpool’s high valuation could pose a problem, with a £40m price tag that has so far proven to be prohibitive amid rival interest from Inter Milan. Of course, with Anderson set to leave for an eye-watering sum, the Tricky Trees can afford to significantly increase their asking price if they decide there is value in Liverpool’s academy graduate. |
scouting | But £40 million would be a significant amount for a player who was unable to maintain a consistent place in Arne Slott’s starting XI last season. The six-cap England international started 18 of 34 Premier League games, scoring one goal and providing two assists. |
impact | Inter Milan are also interested, and a move to the San Siro could be an attractive proposition for Cristian. Chivu’s team won the Serie A title last season. |
Nottingham Forest identifies Curtis Jones as target
According to reporter Ben Jacobs, Nottingham Forest are currently looking to sign a replacement for Anderson, with Jones among their options, but it is unclear whether they are willing to pay the hefty £40m asking price.
Interestingly, Jacobs has said that the Reds are willing to keep the Englishman even if the price is not met, and there is still a chance he could sign a new contract.
Liverpool have already rejected a £21.7m offer from Inter Milan, making him the Serie A club’s second signing since his move in January.
Tricky Trees is entitled to a free run as the Merseysiders do not expect further negotiations with the Italian side at this stage, but he will need to make a club-record bid to get the deal over the line with an asking price of £40m, more than the £37.5m they paid for Omari Hutchinson.
Curtis Jones is unlikely to reach the heights of Elliott Anderson at the City Ground
The central midfielder played only a sporadic role for Liverpool last season, often filling in at right-back or as a rotation option, while Anderson played 3,334 minutes in the Premier League, ranking 10th overall in the league.
During that time, the 23-year-old averaged 13.9 defensive contributions per 90 games, compared to 11.1 for Jones, who played just 1,929 minutes.
Furthermore, the former Newcastle United player was also excellent from an attacking point of view, having been involved in five more goals in the Premier League than the Liverpool player (eight in total).
Anderson has started all three of England’s World Cup matches so far, while Jones was not even included, which speaks volumes.
Nottingham Forest approach signing ‘rising star’ Italy midfielder as Elliott Anderson leaves the club
Not Davide Frattesi.
