Arne Slot can save Liverpool £50m in transfers with logical solution to problem

A new-and-improved Curtis Jones could be the solution to Arne Slot's midfield conundrum after Liverpool were turned down by Martin Zubimendi.

Slot has yet to make a signing since succeeding Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, although it's not for a lack of effort. Strengthening the midfield has been Slot's main focus, and it appeared as though Real Sociedad's Zubimendi was en route to Merseyside before turning down the move.

The Spaniard declined Liverpool's advances, as he previously did with both Barcelona and Arsenal. While this has left the Reds back at square one in the transfer market, they may already have a ready-made solution within the squad.

Academy product Jones has caught the Dutchman's eye in pre-season with a string of promising performance. With both Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai expected to reclaim their secured spots on either side of a six in the midfield, Jones could potentially fill the holding role.

The Englishman - who was named in Gareth Southgate's provisional Euro 2024 squad - is more used to filling in for either Mac Allister or Szoboszlai in the outside midfield positions. However, the early signs suggest Slot trusts the 23-year-old after starting him deeper this summer, reports The Mirror.

Jones played in a midfield trio alongside Szoboszlai and Harvey Elliott in a 2-1 friendly win over Arsenal, where he was substituted for a more natural holding player in Wataru Endo. He has started every one of the club's friendlies this summer, albeit not playing as a typical No6 in all of them.

Jones gave Slot high praise for his management style and approach, expressing great satisfaction with how the coach has influenced his game: "He's amazing. It's probably the happiest I've been in terms of a style of play that suits me.

"It's a clear plan in training and he's fully involved, coaching us a lot. He's big on the finer details. He's got a certain way of playing - he knows it will take time as it's a big change, but him and his staff are chilled about it as they know the quality is all there."

Discussing his evolution as a player, Jones added: "I feel like my way of playing has been to get on the ball and play, being comfortable on the ball. But then I came around a team that had world-class players and I was played on the wing or up front."

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"The central midfielders were always more runners and disciplined. Those principles are the same, but the central midfielder will be more the heart of the team."

Just as the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah tweaked their individual games to become more malleable under Klopp, Jones may also benefit from a similar process thanks to Slot. It's been known for some time that Jones possesses considerable talent in possession, but strengthening his lesser traits may yet facilitate another breakthrough of sorts.

The midfielder concluded with an insight into his past struggles and current enthusiasm to play: "It's always been a hard time coming around the team as a young lad, and I always had a certain way of playing, but I had to adapt and change. That was part of the plan, and it was something I could do. But I feel this is more me, I can get on the ball more. I'm excited."