Liverpool fans are reacting online to the news that Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo is expected to sign for the club today on a season-long loan - but it's fair to say the reaction has been mixed thus far.
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the 26-year-old is currently in Merseyside completing his medical as of the time of writing (1 September).
Formerly of Barcelona and Gremio, the Brazilian international was once one of the most in-demand midfielders in world football, but injuries and a loss of form while in Serie A have hampered his progress of late.
Advert
He is yet to play for Juve this season, although numerous reports indicate that the player believes he'll be more well-suited to Jurgen Klopp's system than Max Allegri's.
However, news of Arthur's imminent arrival hasn't gone down well with all Liverpool fans - or even a vast majority of them
Advert
While the loan deal means club wont have to part way with a huge sum of money to land him, some supporters are wondering why Jurgen Klopp and the recruitment team didn't place a bid for Youri Tielemans.
With the Leicester man's contract up next summer, he'd be available for a relative pittance compared to his actual market worth - which has left some Reds on Twitter rather baffled as to why their club didn't take a punt.
"[Youri] Tielemans is available for cheap, but Liverpool would rather loan Arthur to cover the injuries in their midfield," one user wrote, with another adding: "Seems crazy to me that Liverpool didn’t go in for Tielemans. With Thiago’s injury record and Tielemans’ ability, age and price it seemed like a no brainer."
Advert
A major concern for many is the Brazilian's injury track record in recent seasons, which doesn't make for great reading.
Advert
With Liverpool's main reason for buying a midfielder being their mounting injury crisis, it does seem a little odd that they'd opt to sign someone who, on paper at least, looks to be as injury prone as the likes of Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita.
One journalist even Tweeted out Arthur Melo's injury sheet, alongside the caption: "Good to see Liverpool fixing their injury-prone midfield by signing Arthur, a man with no injury history at all."
While many will view his arrival as a stop-gap until next summer, when a player of Jude Bellingham's calibre is expected to arrive, it's worth noting that Arthur was starting in Barcelona's midfield just a few years ago.
Advert
Between 2018 and 2020, he played 48 times for the Catalan giants, and if he can return to his sparkling best, Liverpool may have stumbled upon a very shrewd solution indeed to their midfield crisis.
Topics: Liverpool, Youri Tielemans, Juventus, Brazil
Tom Fenton