Inter Complete Curtis Jones Deal As Barcelona Test Resolve Over Lautaro

Inter’s summer plans took a big step forward with confirmation that the club have agreed a deal for Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones, while Barcelona’s renewed interest in captain Lautaro Martinez continues to run into resistance.

The Jones move is now a verbal agreement pending a medical. Inter’s position on Lautaro remains unchanged: they do not want to sell.

Inter Agree Curtis Jones Deal In €35m Package

Inter have reached a verbal agreement with Liverpool for Jones, worth a package of around €35m (£30m), with personal terms already in place and a medical being arranged.

The move follows a persistent chase. Inter had previously tried to sign the midfielder in January with a loan proposal that was rejected, and saw further bids turned down earlier this summer before finally reaching an agreement.

Jones becomes the third England international to join Inter this transfer window, following John Stones and Djed Spence, continuing a clear pattern in how the club have approached this summer’s recruitment.

For Inter, the arrival adds another midfield option as the club prepare for the season ahead. The move isn’t fully completed until the medical is passed, but there’s little suggestion at this stage that it will fall through.

Barcelona Turn To Lautaro Martinez

Barcelona’s search for a forward has brought Lautaro back into focus after their pursuit of Julian Alvarez ran into resistance from Atletico Madrid.

Barcelona have made the Argentine forward one of their leading alternative targets and have begun working on a possible deal in recent weeks.

Some reports suggest there could be an opening on the player’s side, describing the negotiation as difficult but not impossible, with the Catalan club seeing enough possibility to continue talks during the final weeks of the window.

Other reporting urges caution. Lautaro’s agent, Alejandro Camano, also represents several other players, so it’s not certain any meeting with Barcelona was primarily about Lautaro at all.

Deco’s Meeting With Lautaro’s Agent Explained

Barcelona sporting director Deco is reported to have met Lautaro’s agent, Camano, in Madrid in recent days.

According to that reporting, the player’s representatives have signalled some openness to a potential move to Barcelona.

But Camano himself addressed this exact question back in May, saying Lautaro was happy at Inter and had no interest in leaving, regardless of who came calling.

The reported meeting doesn’t change the central issue for Barcelona either way: any move would require an agreement with Inter, and Lautaro remains the club’s captain.

Why Inter Control Any Lautaro Negotiation

Inter and Lautaro removed the release clause from his latest contract renewal, which runs until June 2029. The clause had been set at €120m and was only valid for a limited period.

With that provision gone, any club wanting to sign him must negotiate directly with Inter rather than triggering a fixed fee.

Inter CEO Beppe Marotta has been direct about the club’s stance, saying Inter won’t sell Lautaro even at a valuation of €100m.

Some Argentine reports suggest Barcelona could go as high as €100m themselves, but that figure alone doesn’t appear to move Inter’s position based on Marotta’s comments.

Two Very Different Transfer Situations For Inter

The Jones and Lautaro situations sit at opposite ends of the spectrum.

Inter have completed their side of the Jones deal in all but the medical, while Barcelona are still trying to find a way into a Lautaro negotiation that Inter show no sign of entertaining.

Barcelona’s interest is serious enough to have prompted contact with Lautaro’s agent, but serious interest and a workable deal are two different things when the selling club has no desire to sell.

For now, Inter are strengthening their own squad while holding firm on their captain, a combination that leaves Barcelona with a difficult task regardless of how the Jones deal concludes in the coming days.