Inter's Ambitious Midfield Rebuild: Koné and Jones Targeted
Inter are wasting little time handing Cristian Chivu the tools for his first major rebuild. With Davide Frattesi expected to move on, the Nerazzurri are weighing up an ambitious midfield reshuffle built around two very different profiles: Manu Koné from Roma and Curtis Jones from Liverpool.
Koné the priority as Roma weigh FFP reality
Koné sits at the top of Inter’s domestic wishlist. The Frenchman only arrived at Roma from Borussia Mönchengladbach in the summer of 2024 for €18 million plus €2 million in bonuses, but his situation is already under scrutiny as the Giallorossi work to stay on the right side of financial fair play.
Under contract until June 2029 on a net salary of €2.8 million per season, Koné has become a regular presence in Rome, making 81 appearances and chipping in with four goals and six assists. Those numbers tell part of the story; the length of his deal and his age tell the rest. He is an asset Roma can cash in on.
Inter know this. They tried to prise him away last August and failed. This time, they are ready to come back with a more creative offer, one shaped heavily by Chivu’s insistence that Koné is the right fit for his new-look engine room.
The formula is clear: a swap deal that eases Roma’s wage bill and refreshes Inter’s options. Carlos Augusto and/or Frattesi could be included as makeweights, a proposal that would address needs on both sides as the market opens up. Roma would gain proven Serie A pieces; Inter would secure a dynamic midfielder tailored to Chivu’s plans.
Jones in the frame as Inter adjust from Nico Paz dream
Koné is the priority, but he is not the only name on the table. As Inter’s hopes of landing Nico Paz fade, Liverpool’s Curtis Jones has emerged as a serious alternative – and potentially a partner.
The numbers around Jones are striking for a club accountant. His contract at Anfield runs until June 2027, and he earns a net €500,000 per season. For a player with Premier League and European experience, that is a modest wage, the kind that makes any deal structurally simple for a buying club.
Inter do not view Jones as a consolation prize. The plan, as outlined in reports, frames him as a complement to Koné rather than a fallback option. If Koné walks through the door at Appiano Gentile, it would not automatically close it on Jones. Chivu wants layers in midfield: different rhythms, different passing angles, different ways to control games.
The image of Jones on the San Siro pitch is not a hypothetical one. He has already felt the weight of the place. In December 2025, he lined up there for Liverpool in a UEFA Champions League League Phase clash, trying to find space under the relentless pressure of Nicolo Barella. Inter’s staff will remember how he handled that stage.
For Inter, the equation is simple but bold: turn the loss of Frattesi into the launchpad for a new midfield era. If Koné anchors that shift and Jones adds another line of creativity and control, Chivu’s first big statement as Inter coach will not be made on a touchline, but at the negotiating table.
