Phil Thompson has told The Express that he has been disappointed by Liverpool midfielder Arthur Melo.
The Liverpool legend has noted that Arthur, signed on loan from Juventus in the summer of 2022, has not made an impact at Anfield so far this season.
The former Sky Sports pundit made the comments about £126,000-a-week Brazil international midfielder (SalarySport) while urging Liverpool to sign a new midfielder in the January transfer window.
Phil Thompson on Liverpool midfielder Arthur Melo
Thompson said: “Bellingham would be ideal but I just feel, like most Liverpool fans, we just need a bit of reinforcement in there. I don’t think the signing of Arthur Melo helped us in any way.
“It just didn’t seem to fit in, he lacked game time, so I don’t think that was helping us at all. But we certainly do need somebody.”
Disappointing
In our view, Arthur Melo’s time at Liverpool has been disappointing, and we do not think that manager Jurgen Klopp will keep the 26-year-old former Barcelona midfielder at Anfield beyond the end of the season.
Now, it is not entirely Arthur’s fault.
The 26-year-old has had injury and fitness issues, and that cannot be helped.
The midfielder has yet to appear in the Premier League for Liverpool this season.
Arthur has played only 13 minutes in the UEFA Champions League for Jurgen Klopp’s side this campaign.
Interestingly, Liverpool’s Premier League rivals Arsenal have been linked with Arthur.
According to CMW, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta ‘really likes’ the former Barcelona star, and Juventus could use him in a deal to sign Brazilian central defender Gabriel in the summer of 2023.
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