Curtis Jones Ready to Demand Liverpool Exit if Slot Stays Put

Arne Slot's grip on the Liverpool job is loosening by the week, and now it appears his midfield troubles could extend beyond the pitch. Curtis Jones is reportedly ready to agitate for a transfer should the Dutch boss remain at Anfield come summer.

The midfielder's frustrations are mounting. After a season of bit-part football and repeated deployments out of position, Jones has grown weary of watching from the bench or filling in at right-back when his heart lies in midfield. His social media grumblings about the campaign's inadequacies have not gone unnoticed either.

Slot's position grows increasingly precarious as Liverpool limp toward the season's conclusion. The Reds have mustered just a solitary point across their last three league outings, leaving them fifth in the table heading into their final fixture. Bournemouth, currently sixth, harbour mathematical hopes of an upset on the final day, though they would need to beat Nottingham Forest, see Liverpool fall at home to Brentford, and claw back a six-goal goal difference swing to pip the Merseysiders.

Speculation about Slot's future has swirled throughout the week, though recent reports suggest premature obituaries for his tenure may be jumping the gun. That said, one outlet has claimed Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has been conducting hush-hush talks with Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola as a potential successor.

Mick Brown, the former Manchester United chief scout who retains strong connections across the Premier League, believes Jones could flourish under fresh management. "Curtis Jones has been a very reliable player at Liverpool," Brown explained. "He will fill in wherever he's needed, often at right-back, and always works hard and puts in a shift, you never have to worry about whether he'll turn up."

Brown continued: "That's such a valuable player to have in your squad, but ultimately he wants to play in midfield, and he's not being given that opportunity. He's been on the bench a lot this season and when he is starting games he's starting out of position, and as much as he's willing to do that, it can be frustrating."

The veteran scout sees a fork in the road ahead. "It wouldn't surprise me too much if he does push for a move away, especially when he is posting things on social media saying the season hasn't been good enough. A lot might depend on what they do with the manager, because he's under a lot of pressure and a change could mean Jones gets more opportunities. But if things stay as they are and he's being used only as a makeshift right-back, he's going to have doubts about his future at the club."