It feels like Liverpool are on the verge of making a massive mistake—one that could come back to haunt them for years. A sensational homegrown talent is being pushed out the Anfield exit door, and honestly, it's baffling.

According to The Times, contract talks with Curtis Jones have stalled completely. The Scouser's current deal runs until 2027, which means he's heading into that dreaded final year—the sweet spot for clubs looking to cash in on a player rather than lose them for free.

And the interest is definitely there. Inter Milan tried to snap him up in January, while Tottenham were reportedly keen before they opted for Conor Gallagher instead. With that kind of market buzz and Liverpool's silence on a new deal, the writing seems to be on the wall: a summer sale could be on the cards.

But here's the thing—Jones wants to stay. He's a boyhood Red who dreams of spending his entire career at Anfield. And honestly, based on his performances, Liverpool should be doing everything to make that happen.

Let's look at the numbers. The Times highlights that Jones ranks second only to Rodri among Premier League midfielders for passes per 90 minutes this season. He's also second to Moisés Caicedo for passing accuracy and second to Rayan Cherki for the number of carries among midfielders with at least 1,000 minutes played. That's elite company.

What Jones brings to the midfield is something unique—a blend of composure, creativity, and control that the rest of the squad simply can't replicate. He's the kind of player who dictates the tempo, and that's not easy to find.

Arne Slot has pointed out that Jones has played more minutes this season than in any previous first-team campaign. But that stat misses the bigger picture. The reality is that Jones has actually made fewer Premier League starts this season than last, and if not for injuries forcing him to fill in at right-back, the gap would be even wider. In fact, he's on par with the number of starts he managed during an injury-hit final season under Jurgen Klopp.

There's no clear reason why Jones isn't featuring more, especially when there's a strong case that he's outperformed both Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai in key areas. Letting a player of his caliber—and with his connection to the club—slip away would be a tough pill for any Liverpool fan to swallow.

For a club that prides itself on building from within, this feels like a misstep. Curtis Jones isn't just a squad player; he's a symbol of the academy pipeline that makes Anfield special. Hopefully, the board sees that before it's too late.