ASTON VILLA are ready to sound out Liverpool about buying talented youngster Curtis Jones.
The big-spending outfit remain in the market and could make the surprise with Jones, 20, not yet making a solid breakthrough at Anfield.
Jones missed out on a place on the bench for Liverpool against Chelsea last night.
The homegrown starlet would still see his future on Merseyside but Villa are set to try their luck with an enquiry.
Villa could go in at around £15million and that would put Liverpool on the spot and give them a decision to make.
The midfielder is under contract until 2025 at Anfield.
Jones has seven goals in 47 first-team appearances for his boyhood club.
But the England Under-21 international is yet to feature for the Reds this season.
BETTING SPECIAL – GET £50 IN FREE BETS WITH WILLIAM HILL
He missed the opening-day win over Norwich due to concussion protocols.
Jones was then an unused sub as Liverpool beat Burnley but did not make the matchday 20 for the 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
Dean Smith has already brought in four new signings into his Villa first-team squad this summer.
Danny Ings, Leon Bailey, Ashley Young and Emiliano Buendia arrived using the cash received for Jack Grealish.
Axel Tuanzebe, meanwhile, joined for a third loan spell at Villa Park from Manchester United.
⚽ Read our Transfer news live blog for the very latest rumours, gossip and done deals