Steven Gerrard sends Liverpool firm Curtis Jones transfer message - 'It's critical'

Steve Gerrard

Steven Gerrard says Liverpool should not be looking to let Curtis Jones leave this summer - insisting the club must retain the best of its home-grown talent.

Jones was wanted by Serie A champions Inter in January and has previously been linked with Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa.

It's thought that the city-centre-born midfielder is keen for more game time at Anfield but Arne Slot hinted in February that talks are open with his representatives over a contract extension.

In an interview during a trip to Malaysia, Gerrard said it was imperative Liverpool kept hold of the best players from their Academy system, name-checking Jones, whom he coached as Under-18s manager in 2018.

Gerrard

I think the academy system at our club is crucial and vital,”

“It’s important we keep producing home-grown talents.

“I think naturally, being around the city, growing up in the city, we understand the demands of the club, the style, what the fans want.

“It’s embedded in us because we know the city inside out. I wouldn’t allow Curtis Jones to leave. I wished and hoped that Trent (Alexander-Arnold) didn’t leave us.

“Certainly, you’ll understand and respect every player has got their own career and can make their own decisions."

Gerrard added: “But it’s very difficult to replace a player at Trent’s level because he’s world-class. Hopefully, hopefully, he might return one day.

“I think it’s critical and key that we keep producing home-grown talent, and what you do have to say is that Liverpool have been really good at that.

“If you look back, Michael Owen, Jamie Carragher, Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman, Trent, myself, even the likes of players like Jay Spearing and Stephen Warnock who don’t play the [same] amount of games, but they still come into the team and they understand the values and the principles of what we’re about.”