In a recent interview with Football Insider, Kevin Phillips urged his former club Aston Villa to land Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones. Phillips said,
“It would be a big coup if they can get a player like Jones out of that Liverpool side.
“He performed in that team last season so he would be a massive signing for Dean Smith and the supporters.
“Jones certainly has a lot of quality. He has played in big games for a big club so he would not be overawed by a move.
“It would be a really exciting signing for the fans because it is probably an area they would like to see another player come in.
“He has similar attributes to Grealish. Every team in the Premier League wants a ball carrying midfielder and he is certainly a player that can do that.”
Jones’ Eye-Catching Campaign At Anfield
Jones impressed in patches for the Reds last season when he managed to produce a few productive displays as a useful presence in Jurgen Klopp’s midfield. The Liverpool-born talent banged in four goals and secured five assists in 34 matches for the Merseyside giants in the previous campaign across all fronts.
The English sensation did a little bit of everything at the centre of the park but struggled to be consistent after he averaged 0.7 tackles, 0.8 interceptions, 0.8 shots, 0.5 key passes and 0.9 dribbles per 90 minutes in Premier League football. The 20-year-old was even tidy when distributing possession to his teammates based on his pass success rate of 92.2% in top-flight football (stats via whoscored).
Should The Villans Move In For Jones This January?
Jones is a composed presence on the ball and excels at keeping possession moving in the opposition half. He can engineer some decent plays for others around him and can make a few driving runs with the ball towards the opposition penalty area. The English midfield ace has a knack for scoring and creating his fair share of goals in the final third which has made him such a valuable asset in Klopp’s match-day squad.
At 20, Jones is only going to get better with each season. Hence, he will be an exciting long-term acquisition for the Villans if they can find a way to get a deal done for him in January or at the end of this season. However, it will be easier said than done as the English youngster is under contract at Anfield until the summer of 2025.
Dean Smith needs to add more quality to his midfield department if he wants his team to challenge for a top-half finish in the Premier League next year. Jones fits the bill perfectly and could serve as a good replacement for Jack Grealish who joined Manchester City earlier this year.
Thus, the Villans head coach would be wise to move in for the talented midfielder in January. However, the West Midlands club would be better off signing him on loan as it is unlikely that Klopp would allow someone of Jones’ potential to leave permanently in the near future.
