Liverpool take Arthur Melo on loan from Juventus to solve midfield problem

Liverpool have addressed their midfield shortage by signing Arthur Melo on a season-long loan from Juventus.

The Brazil international travelled to Merseyside for a medical on deadline day after an approach from Liverpool in the early hours of Thursday. Jürgen Klopp claimed after Wednesday’s win over Newcastle that the arrival of a midfielder was unlikely but the hamstring injury sustained by Jordan Henderson prompted the late move for Arthur.

Henderson is due to undergo a scan on Friday. There are concerns the Liverpool captain could be out until the international break this month, meaning he would miss Premier League games against Everton, Wolves and Chelsea, Champions League group matches versus Napoli and Ajax and possibly England’s final games before the World Cup.

Liverpool’s deal for Arthur contains no obligation to sign him. That will keep the path open to move for primary midfield target Jude Bellingham at Borussia Dortmund next summer.

Arthur signed for Juventus in 2020 as part of the swap deal that took Miralem Pjanic to Barcelona, whom the Brazilian joined for €31m in 2018. But the 26-year-old has made only 24 starts in Serie A and found himself on the margins of Massimiliano Allegri’s plans last season.

Personal terms were agreed swiftly with Arthur, who won the Copa Libertadores with Grêmio in 2017 and is viewed by Liverpool as the kind of experienced, deep-lying midfielder they need. Liverpool tried to sign Aurélien Tchouaméni from Monaco this summer but the France international was set on a move to Real Madrid, whom he joined in a €100m deal. Bellingham was another favoured option but Dortmund had no intention of selling the England international in the same summer as losing Erling Haaland to Manchester