Arthur off to Liverpool in surprise loan move

One of the first bombshells of this summer’s transfer window landed right on the last day, just 24 hours before the market is due to close. Juventus and Liverpool agreed the transfer of Arthur Melo, who joins the Reds on loan for the remainder of the season. It was an unexpected move, in response to demands to strengthen the midfield, where Klopp has a number of players out injured. The Italian press announced early on Thursday that Arthur was traveling to England, which AS was able to confirm.

Klopp had asked the Liverpool sports management to bring in an extra midfielder. He was asked whether the club would be making an effort to make more reinforcements in Tuesday’s press conference and replied that while they are constantly on the lookout for players, they are careful to make sure they sign the right player at the right price - and that depends on many other factors. Few could have imagined that Liverpool would elect Arthur to bolster the centre of the park. The Brazilian international was out of contention at Juventus where Allegri used him sparingly last season, handing him just 11 starts in Serie A.

Barcelona brought Arthur to Europe in the summer of 2018 on a six-year deal from Grêmio. He arrived as one of the most promising midfielders in the world and despite enjoying a bright star at Camp Nou, he faded in his first season and a run of niggling injuries kept him from gaining any consistency. After just two seasons at Barça, the Catalans decided to trade him in a bizarre exchange operation with Pjanic. But Arthur struggled to settle in Turin. He might have a better chance of finding his feet Anfield with support from Liverpool’s Brazilian players, his team mates in the national team - Alisson, Fabinho and Firmino. Arthur is a creative midfielder whose role is to provide the link between midfield and attack - at the moment, Klopp only has Thiago Alcântara providing that service.