Inter have submitted a written offer to Liverpool for Curtis Jones worth €30m (£25.7m), with a further €5m available in add-ons and a percentage of any future sale.
The formal proposal follows a verbal agreement between the clubs over a package understood to be worth €35m. Negotiations have been ongoing for much of the past year, with Jones having already tried to secure a move to San Siro during the January transfer window.
Liverpool had initially placed a €40m valuation on the midfielder, but with Jones’ contract due to expire at the end of the season, they have reduced their asking price to help move the transfer forward.
Sky Sport Italia reports that Inter’s written offer consists of an initial €30m payment, performance-related bonuses worth up to €5m and a sell-on percentage for Liverpool should Jones leave the Italian club in the future.
Inter are also discussing personal terms with Jones and his representatives. The England international and his camp are understood to have been keen on a move to the Serie A champions for some time, meaning an agreement on those details is not expected to prove difficult.
If the final stages of the transfer proceed as planned, Jones could travel to Italy on Wednesday and undergo his Inter medical before the weekend.
However, the deal is unlikely to be completed in time for the 24-year-old to be included in the squad for Inter’s opening Serie A fixture of the season against Monza on Saturday, which begins at 17:30 UK time (18:30 CEST).
Jones could still attend the match at San Siro and be presented to Inter supporters before or during the game.
His arrival would make Jones the third England international to join Inter this summer. John Stones has moved from Manchester City as a free agent, while Tottenham Hotspur full-back Djed Spence is also joining the club.
Jones came through Liverpool’s academy and has been with the first team since making his senior debut. He has made 147 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring 17 goals and providing 15 assists, and was part of the Liverpool side that won the Premier League title last season.
Inter’s interest in the midfielder has developed over an extended period, but the written offer represents a significant step towards completing the transfer. The clubs have now agreed the broad financial structure, leaving the final paperwork, personal terms and medical examination to be concluded.
