Liverpool reject Inter's second bid for Curtis Jones as Salah haunts Reds at World Cup

Liverpool have rejected a second bid from Inter Milan for midfielder Curtis Jones, with the Serie A champions’ £21.7m offer falling well short of the club’s asking price of around £35m. The Reds are said to have grown frustrated with Inter’s persistent low bids after initial talks broke down in January.

Liverpool are using Conor Gallagher’s £35m move from Atlético Madrid to Tottenham Hotspur in January as a benchmark for their valuation of Jones, who has made 228 appearances for his boyhood club since his debut in January 2019. Inter, who won Serie A last season, remain interested but have yet to match Liverpool’s demands.

The news arrives on the same day that former Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah reminded the world of his quality at World Cup 2026. The 34-year-old played a central role in Egypt’s 3-1 comeback victory over New Zealand on Sunday, a result that marked his country’s first-ever World Cup win. The goal took Salah to 69 international strikes — one short of equalling Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan’s all-time national scoring record.

Hassan did not hold back in his post-match comments, appearing to reference the well-publicised friction between Salah and former Liverpool head coach Arne Slot during the Dutchman’s final season at Anfield. Salah left the club this summer after nine years and multiple trophies, but his final campaign was marked by a public dispute with Slot and a dip in his domestic numbers despite Liverpool winning the Premier League title.

“Salah worked hard on the pitch and this is something you should know,” Hassan said. “I am maybe the first coach to let him play in a position that matches his danger, that matches his capabilities and qualities. We worked on so many things and I am sure we are going to see more from him.”

Hassan added, visibly emotional: “I am very happy with this victory, and I thank the entire Egyptian people for their support. This victory is dedicated to all Egyptians, both men and women.”

For Liverpool supporters, Salah’s World Cup performance served as a pointed reminder of what the club lost — and the circumstances under which he departed.