Even accounting for the madness that afflicts football in the final hours of a transfer window, the interest in Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones that was made public late last month raised an eyebrow or two.

Italian giants Inter made their advances known on Friday, January 30 and with Liverpool preparing for a big Premier League match the following evening at home to Newcastle United, it was an approach that was said to have been given the short shrift.

The move from the Nerazzurri was never privately dismissed as inaccurate but checks on the reports came with a firm indication that the Reds had no interest in weakening their squad, particularly so late in the window, with the deadline set for 7pm the following Monday.