Arne Slot Exposes the Real Reason Liverpool Crushed Star Player's January Transfer Dreams

Arne Slot acknowledged that Liverpool's injury problems stopped Curtis Jones from departing the club to sign with Inter Milan.

Both clubs held discussions during the transfer window's closing days, with sources indicating Jones had particularly sought a move after finding limited playing time at Anfield throughout the season's opening months. In the end, the talks yielded no results, as Slot remained resolute in retaining the midfielder.

"He's accumulated significant playing time, though not exclusively, but I believe he's also unfortunate given that it's likely the sole position where we haven't experienced injuries," Slot explained during his recent press briefing. "Nevertheless, he's featured extensively.

"That's naturally why we retained him too, since we possess numerous players in that area, but we require these midfielders across various roles as well. And when you begin needing midfielders in different positions, then the midfield options become increasingly limited.

"So certainly, we kept him. His circumstances remain unchanged for us. He's among the 16 outfield squad members we have accessible for the extended period now, including this current moment with two exceptionally young talents in Trey [Nyoni] and Rio [Ngumoha] involved.

"So it would seem peculiar if we permitted anyone to depart when you possess only 16 available players."

Jones Facing Unfortunate Reality of Liverpool Struggles

Jones Confronting Difficult Circumstances at Liverpool

Jones has legitimate reasons to feel frustrated with his current position this campaign. At 25 years old and beyond his developmental phase, he has only begun 10 Premier League matches this season and is evidently considered a squad rotation option under Slot's management.

Curtis Jones's Appearances This Season

Curtis Jones's Match Record This Campaign

There's nothing inherently problematic with this arrangement—not everyone can feature in every match and he does boast 30 total appearances across all tournaments—but with 18 months remaining on his deal, Jones must now determine whether he's content in this capacity or believes he can enhance his prospects elsewhere.

That said, while Jones must prioritize his personal career goals, Slot and Liverpool cannot ignore their own requirements. As the Dutch manager emphasizes, Liverpool have suffered numerous injuries throughout the season and cannot risk weakening their roster so late in the transfer period, when securing an adequate replacement would have been virtually impossible.

Jones has been deployed across multiple positions, from fullback to winger, but his challenges stem from central midfield competition. Slot depends on Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch as his preferred partnership, and these two rank among Liverpool's few players who have escaped significant injury concerns.

Should either Mac Allister or Gravenberch suffer an injury before season's end, Jones would become the primary backup, making him too crucial for Liverpool during a period when supporters are expressing dissatisfaction with the team's performances.

Liverpool must prioritize the club's interests and, regrettably for Jones, organizations typically hold the advantage in these circumstances. As Alexander Isak demonstrated last summer, the only method for Jones to force a departure would be refusing to play and openly disrespecting his cherished hometown club. There exists no compromise.

The matter will be reconsidered during the summer transfer window, when Jones will have merely 12 months remaining on his agreement, but presently he must set aside his disappointment and continue supporting his teammates ahead of him in the hierarchy.