Liverpool have set an asking price of north of £30million for Curtis Jones following an approach from Inter Milan, talkSPORT understands.
The Italian giants made a move for Jones last week and asked whether a £21.6m deal would be possible for the midfielder.
But Liverpool do not want to sell him to any club at that price.
He is looking to leave Anfield this summer, with Inter keen on signing him, having seen another offer rebuffed in January.
The Reds are prepared to keep Jones unless a suitable bid comes in for the 25-year-old, whose contract expires next year.
They would be okay allowing him to leave on a free once his deal runs out if they do not accept an offer.
Liverpool are understood to have not had any concerns about their academy product’s attitude or professionalism.
And amid the interest and second approach from Inter, the Reds’ stance on their valuation has hardened.
The Serie A side are going to have to significantly increase their bid to get the 2024/24 Premier League champions to engage in talks.
Jones’ future remains in the balance, but there remains potential for his lifelong Liverpool career to continue.
If he stays and impresses new manager Andoni Iraola, then he may end up getting offered a new contract.
But if a £30m offer comes in, he looks set to be on his way out.
Liverpool’s Curtis conundrum
With a regular midfield of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, Jones’ gametime last season dipped.
He made 16 substitute appearances under Arne Slot, only scoring one goal and providing two assists in 34 Premier League games.
The Liverpool-born star also only started four Champions League matches as he struggled to claim a spot in the line-up.
That, combined with the Reds’ woeful form at times last term, led to a rumoured ‘tiff’ with Slot and an open outburst on TV.
A sale has appeared to be inevitable this summer, but if the valuation isn’t met, he could end up staying.
And that would please former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant, who admitted he wanted Jones to stay in April.
Pennant said on talkSPORT’s Inside Liverpool: “I just think sometimes you just need continuity to get into a regular rhythm to get your confidence up.
“Sometimes, chopping and changing positions and coming in and out of the team is hard, and he gets judged week in, week out.
“For some reason, he doesn’t get the same chances that the others get. Mac Allister has been way off it, but Slot is still playing him ahead of Jones.
“I would like to see him there next season because he can do a job all over the pitch.”