Former Liverpool forward Jermaine Pennant has warned the club against selling academy graduate Curtis Jones this summer.
Curtis Jones hasn’t had enough game time in the ongoing campaign, and with his contract running out, his future has become a massive talking point heading into the summer. A number of top clubs are already keeping tabs on him.
While he has been involved in 45 games, he has only started in 15 of those outings and has less than 2,500 minutes under his name. Jones is frustrated by the lack of game time, and since he will only have a year left on his deal in the summer, the 25-year-old could look for a move away.
Pennant wants a new deal for Curtis Jones
Jermaine Pennant has urged Liverpool to hand the English international a new deal and ensure he continues at the club. While speaking on talkSPORT, the former Liverpool player suggested that the club should keep him for his versatility and the fact that he is homegrown and knows the club inside out.
Pennant said, “We should keep him just for his versatility, it’s great.
“You can put him anywhere in the midfield or at right back. You need that.
“He’s a local lad, he knows and loves the club and he can help a lot of the players understand certain things as well.
“Ultimately, the last few games, he’s been phenomenal – one of the top performers.
“So, we should offer him a contract because this squad is dwindling. There are a lot of key players leaving and you need to keep the core. He’s a local lad and we have already lost Trent [Alexander-Arnold].
“Offer him a contract, and ultimately, it’s up to him if he wants to go somewhere where he can play week in, week out, but all the club can do is offer.”
Liverpool sold Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich last summer in a deal worth £65 million. Given his performances for the German club, the Reds might be regretting letting go of a versatile forward like the Colombian. Pennant has urged the club to ensure they avoid a similar mistake.
Not only can he feature anywhere in midfield, but Jones can also feature as a right-back when needed. Despite his lack of game time this season, he is still second behind Rodri among midfielders for passes per 90, second behind Moises Caicedo for passing accuracy, and Rayan Cherki for number of carries.
These stats clearly define the quality of the player, and since he is well aware of how things work at the club, he could even help others. Having already lost a homegrown talent in Trent Alexander-Arnold, Pennant is pushing the club to secure Jones’ long-term future.
While the player could push for an exit in search of a prominent role, the 43-year-old wants the club to do their best and put forward a renewal offer.
