Jamie Carragher has praised Liverpool for signing Arthur Melo on loan from Juventus, but does not feel the deadline day deal will be the long-term answer to Jurgen Klopp’s needs.
Jamie Carragher admits ‘I don’t think Arthur is the answer’ to Liverpool need
Liverpool signed Arthur Melo on loan from Juventus on deadline day to strengthen Jurgen Klopp’s injury-hit midfield. But Reds hero Jamie Carragher has now told Sky Sports that he does not feel the Brazilian is a long-term answer, and a new option will be sought in 2023.
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Carragher believes Liverpool were right to sign Arthur, having seen their engine room fall apart with injuries already this term. Jordan Henderson added to the Merseyside natives’ problems during Wednesday night when the Anfield captain sustained a hamstring injury.
The England star joined Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the physio room at their Melwood training ground. Henderson’s departure from the pitch at home to Newcastle United left just Fabinho, Curtis Jones, James Milner and Harvey Elliott.
So, Liverpool have agreed to sign Arthur on a season-long loan from Juventus for a fee of £4m. Klopp has also gained a £32.5m option to purchase the 26-year-old next year, when the 22-cap Brazil international would have two-years remaining on his contract in Turin.
Juventus let Arthur move in last-gasp deal following bit-part presence
Massimiliano Allegri has allowed Arthur to join Liverpool on loan, having frozen the €8m-a-season (£133k-a/w) star out of his plans at Juventus. He did not name the midfielder in any of the Bianconeri’s opening four Serie A matchday squads, after a bit-part role last season.
Arthur started just 11 of his 20 top-flight appearances, two of six outings in the Champions League and also missed 13 games across all competitions through a handful of injuries. But Carragher believes Liverpool can gain in the short-term, given their wealth of injury issues.
“I don’t think Arthur is the answer to what Liverpool will need in the next three or four years,” Carragher said. “They need a younger, more energetic kind of player. But I think Arthur is in just to fill a space – that is why Liverpool have bought him late and on loan.
“It smacks a little bit of what Liverpool did 18 months ago, when they had lots of centre-backs injured and didn’t buy anyone, they brought in players on loan to have a look at.
“Liverpool didn’t buy those players and went on to sign Ibrahima Konate in the summer. The actual midfield player they want is not available right now, so I think bringing someone in on loan is sensible.”
Klopp has so far only been able to field Thiago for 51 minutes through Liverpool’s opening five Premier League fixtures. He also only had the Spaniard available for 26 games, starting 17 plus eight substitute outings last term, following 20 starts across 24 outings in 2020/21.
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