Liverpool will be hit with a contract offer that derails their plans. Where do they go from here?
Liverpool are in need of a right-back in January and their choice appears to be Inter Milan star Denzel Dumfries. The player is another Dutchman who knows Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo very well.
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But in the end, the deal fell through, and rightfully so. Dumfries had not played for several months at the time and was sidelined through injury. In other words, this isn’t the right player to quickly fill an injury void.
However, Liverpool reportedly retain interest and have been pursuing this route in Italy. Now Inter Milan report that Inter Milan intend to act on this and offer Dumfries a new contract.
This was designed to settle the player, increase his wages and end Liverpool’s interest. More importantly, however, they want to remove the €25m release clause from his contract, as it is believed the Reds could trigger it at the end of the season.
If this is indeed the plan at Anfield, this contract offer would derail that plan. That is, of course, if Dumfries accepts it.
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Denzel Dumfries: Situation Summary
Liverpool interest and ‘affordability’ clause
Reports in late February and early March 2026 suggested that Liverpool had positioned themselves as frontrunners to sign the 29-year-old. While Dumfries is contracted to Inter until June 2028, it is reported that a specific clause in his contract allows him to join certain clubs until July 2026 for a fee of €25 million (£22 million). Liverpool hierarchy reportedly see this as an “affordable” opportunity to land an elite right-back, even if it deviates from their usual policy of signing young players.
Recovery and recent status
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Dumfries most recently made his first start since November 2025 in a 1-1 draw with Atalanta on March 14. He has been sidelined for nearly four months due to a serious ankle injury that required surgery. Before the injury, he was in elite form and was selected as the Serie A right back for the 2024/25 season. In the current 2025/26 season, he has played 19 times for club and national team, contributing 4 goals and 2 assists.
future outlook
Although Inter are keen to keep him, they are reportedly “vulnerable” to his departure due to his release clause. Dumfries has previously expressed his interest in a move to the Premier League, citing the intensity of the league as a major attraction. As long as he remains fit following his recent return, he will also be part of the Netherlands’ squad for the 2026 World Cup.
