Curtis Jones Misses Liverpool Friendly Amid Inter Milan Transfer Speculation

Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones has been omitted from the squad for the club's latest preseason friendly against Como on August 17, intensifying speculation about his future as Inter Milan continues to pursue a transfer for the England international. The 25-year-old has missed the last three preseason matches, a absence officially attributed to a minor hip complaint but widely reported in Italian media as a tactic to force through a move to Serie A.

Manager Andoni Iraola cited the injury after Jones sat out a 3-2 defeat to Monaco on August 9. "Curtis, he has trained every day but yesterday finished with issues in the hip," Iraola said at the time. "It doesn't look anything big but it didn't make any sense to risk." However, reports from Sport Mediaset and Corriere dello Sport now state the medical explanation is a "white lie," with Jones reportedly avoiding matches to prevent any injury that could derail the transfer.

Jones also did not feature in Liverpool's 2-0 win over Como on August 17, with the club stating he was scheduled for individual work. This sustained absence has fueled transfer speculation, with Inter Milan's interest reported as longstanding since May. The Serie...