The England international has been a top target for the Nerazzurri over several months, although they have seen quite a few proposals rejected.
With a contract that is running down in June 2027, it was hoped that the €40m asking price would drop, and that Jones not even being on the bench for today’s friendly match at Anfield was a sign.
Iraola explains Jones absence
However, his absence from the side that lost 3-2 to AS Monaco was explained by coach Iraola.
“Curtis, he has trained every day but yesterday finished with issues in the hip. It doesn’t look anything big but it didn’t make any sense to risk and those are the ones, more or less, closer to a return,” noted Iraola.
Jeremy Jacquet was also left out of the squad due to fitness problems.
If Inter were to pay the €40m for Jones, it would mean selling one of their current midfielders to raise funds, and the most likely option for that is Aleksandar Stankovic.
It would be a risky move, and one likely to infuriate the fans, because Stankovic is a product of the Inter youth academy and the son of former player Dejan Stankovic.