Inter’s Midfield Puzzle: Jones on Hold, Frattesi in the Shop Window
Inter have locked their sights on one name to reinforce Simone Inzaghi’s midfield: Curtis Jones. Everything else is secondary. The plan has been clear for weeks — clear a space in the squad, wait for Liverpool to soften their stance, then go hard for the England midfielder.
Right now, that plan hinges on Davide Frattesi.
Frattesi–Lazio Talks Open the Door
According to Fabrizio Romano (via SOSFanta), Inter and Lazio have opened talks over a deal for Frattesi built around a loan with a conditional obligation to buy. It’s not just a paper exercise. Frattesi wants minutes, real ones.
He made 33 appearances last season, but most of them came from the bench. For a player in his prime years, that isn’t enough. Hence the search for a club that will hand him a starting role from day one.
Lazio see that opportunity. Per Alfredo Pedullà, Frattesi has been formally offered to the Biancocelesti by his agent Giuseppe Riso, who also looks after Mario Gila, Andrea Pinamonti, and Lorenzo Lucca. The capital club had previously explored a partial swap with Napoli, only for Milan to jump in and close a deal for the defender involved in those talks.
After missing out on Benfica’s Franjo Ivanovic, now Lens-bound, Lazio have turned their gaze to the Sassuolo product as a priority option.
For Frattesi, it would be a fascinating move. Lazio is one of the few sides where he would walk straight into the starting XI. The twist? His past links to Roma would make the transfer sting on one side of the city and add spice on the other.
Inter’s Jones Plan Waiting on the Green Light
If Inter manage to move Frattesi, the dominoes start to fall. The Nerazzurri are ready to immediately reignite their push for Curtis Jones.
The Italian champions are prepared to go up to €35 million for the Liverpool midfielder. Liverpool, though, are holding firm and asking for a high fee despite Jones having a short-term contract. They know his value, and they’re pricing him accordingly.
Jones is open to the move. Inter’s interest is concrete enough that Liverpool have effectively wrapped him in cotton wool during pre-season, preserving him while the market plays out.
Inter’s stance is straightforward: Frattesi out, Jones in. But nothing about this is simple.
Lazio have struggled to close deals all summer, and Inter are not in the business of giving away a valuable asset. The negotiation over Frattesi promises to be anything but smooth.
If it breaks in Inter’s favour, though, the Italian champions could walk into the new season with a refreshed midfield and a Premier League talent at its heart. If it doesn’t, they risk being stuck in limbo, with Jones still at Anfield and Frattesi still fighting for minutes in Milan.
