Liverpool Explored Aleksandar Stankovic Deal During Curtis Jones Transfer

LIVERPOOL, England — Liverpool FC completed the transfer of academy graduate Curtis Jones to Inter Milan, but negotiations between the clubs also opened discussions about rising Serbian international Aleksandar Stankovic.

Although Liverpool did not execute a transfer for the young midfielder during the summer window, Anfield officials used the dialogue to explore the parameters of a possible deal. Club scouts reportedly continue to monitor Stankovic’s progress ahead of potential future moves.

Liverpool redirected its primary transfer resources toward rebuilding the attacking flanks after star winger Mohamed Salah departed as a free agent. Coaching staff were also satisfied with the club’s immediate depth in central midfield, where Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Ryan Gravenberch are among the available options.

Midfield is nevertheless viewed by Liverpool decision-makers as an area for targeted reinforcement next year, leaving Stankovic firmly on the club’s radar. The 21-year-old has raised his profile across European football after a challenging developmental pathway.

Stankovic initially struggled to secure consistent first-team minutes within Inter Milan’s senior squad before joining Swiss Super League side FC Luzern on loan for competitive experience. He later moved permanently to Belgian powerhouse Club Brugge.

His single season in the Belgian Pro League brought 12 goal contributions across 49 appearances in all competitions, while he helped guide Brugge to a domestic league title. Those performances earned him a regular place in the Serbian national team.

Inter Milan then triggered a clause to bring him back to Italy. The midfielder also carries a notable football pedigree as the son of Dejan Stankovic, the legendary midfielder who won 103 international caps and the historic treble with Inter Milan under Jose Mourinho in 2010.

Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall, the younger Stankovic is right-footed and known for his physical attributes and tactical versatility. He can operate as a deep-lying defensive shield or as a box-to-box midfielder, with technical assessments highlighting his line-breaking passes, efficiency from set-pieces, and defensive output.

Those qualities have attracted considerable attention from the Premier League. Before Liverpool’s inquiry, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur had monitored Stankovic’s development before shifting their attention to other transfer targets.

Inter Milan remains under no immediate pressure to sell the Serbian international. Stankovic is under contract in Milan through 2031, and football database Transfermarkt values him at approximately £27 million ($35 million), allowing Inter to demand a premium if Liverpool or other European suitors formalize their interest in upcoming transfer windows.