Paul Merson has backed Unai Emery’s Aston Villa to sign Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones during the 2023 summer transfer window.
The former Aston Villa player added that Curtis Jones is a player that ‘never lets you down’, but divides opinion because he’s not that ‘superstar £70 million player’.
The 22-year-old has found life tough on Merseyside this season, before April, he had only started one Premier League game under Jurgen Klopp.
But fast forward to the present and he has started five league games on the bounce, including his side’s crucial 2-1 win over West Ham United in midweek.
Jones has four years left on his Liverpool contract, so from that perspective, there is no rush for him to extend his contract or look for a move elsewhere.
But if he heads for the exit door, Merson dropped Villa’s name into the hat as his next possible destination, as he told Sky Sports News (29/04/23 at 2:05 pm).
“I quite like Curtis Jones,” said Merson. “He’s not a name, is he?! (that’s why he divides opinion). He’s not a £60 or 70 million player.
“I like him. I think he does a good job. He doesn’t let you down. But he’s not a superstar, so people pick him out. I think he’s a good player.
“If he doesn’t get on at Liverpool, then I don’t think he is doing any harm for himself to get a good move to someone in the summer like Aston Villa or somewhere like that.
“He never lets you down. He can play. Get forward and defend as well. But, as you said, he will ‘divide opinion’ because he’s not an £80 million player. He comes through the ranks. Will he play every week next season? I wouldn’t think so.”
JONES IS NOT AHEAD OF JACOB RAMSEY
The duo are England U21 internationals and are known to one another on the international stage, but Jones isn’t on the level of the Aston Villa academy product.
In terms of starting, the boyhood Liverpool fan wouldn’t get ahead of Jacob Ramsey, so from that perspective, he’s not a must for Emery’s European-chasing side.
Villa needs a number eight for the summer, but someone more robust and hard-hitting than Jones, such as the heavily-linked former Arsenal midfielder, Matteo Guendouzi, who is at Marseille.
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