Liverpool reportedly have no intention of signing Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo on a permanent deal next summer despite having an option to buy the Brazilian international in 2023.
According to CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs, the Reds already know they will not activate Arthur’s purchase option next summer, with Liverpool having a deal with Juventus to sign the midfielder for €37.5m (£33m) should the former FC Barcelona star impress during his loan spell at Anfield.
Arthur was a late signing for Liverpool in the summer transfer window as Jurgen Klopp brought in the 26-year-old as injury cover in the midfield for the likes of Thiago Alcantara, Fabinho and Harvey Elliott. However, the Brazilian has now himself wound up on the treatment table.
The Athletic report that the midfielder could be out for as long as four months as Arthur underwent surgery this weekend to resolve a thigh problem, dooming the Brazilian’s chances of making the 2022 FIFA World Cup and seemingly his hopes of staying at Liverpool beyond this season.
Indeed, Arthur was always facing a losing battle signing for Liverpool based on his form with Juventus over the past two seasons. And this latest update seemingly puts the Gremio academy graduate’s time on Merseyside in the history books already as one of Klopp’s most unusual transfers.
Questions have to be raised over why Liverpool even signed Arthur
Arthur has played just 13 minutes of football since joining Liverpool on deadline day, and following this transfer update, serious questions have to be asked to the Reds’ recruitment team over why such a signing was even sanctioned in the first place.
After all, Juventus had struggled to ship out Arthur for many months before his surprise move to Liverpool, and with the Reds already giving up on the midfielder after paying a £4m loan fee as per the Athletic, concerns have to be raised over this entire saga.
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