Liverpool have completed the capture of Brazil international Arthur Melo…as Jurgen Klopp gambles on a player with a patchy appearance record to solve his midfield injury crisis.
The 26 year old has joined on loan from Juventus until the end of the season, a deal that Juventus have confirmed includes an option to buy, as the Reds reel from the blow of news Jordan Henderson becomes the latest midfielder to succumb to injury.
It takes the number of absences in that area already this season to five, and perhaps explains the surprise decision to turn to former Barcelona man Arthur, who hasn’t played a competitive game since May.
In fact, since arriving in Europe from Brazil side Gremio, in spells with Barca and then Juve, he has played a miserly 7,740 minutes in total over four complete La Liga and Serie A seasons.
That equates to just 1,185 minutes per league campaign, or roughly 13 full matches a season in the Spanish and Italian leagues.
That is partly down to failing to find a regular starting place at either club - he made just 11 starts in Serie A with Juventus last season - and a problem with injuries himself.
His record states he’s had 15 separate injuries since 2019, with almost two months on the sidelines last season in Italy. Added to that, he had an entire month on the bench without getting onto the pitch in the Italian League.
But Klopp has admitted he desperately needs replacements, with skipper Henderson waiting on the results of a scan after limping off during the pulsating 2-1 victory over Newcastle on Wednesday night.
While Liverpool don’t yet know the extent of the hamstring problem, they fear it is serious, with the captain already ruled out of the Merseyside derby at the weekend, next week’s Champions League trip to Napoli, and the following week’s visit of Ajax.
He is also certain to miss the subsequent Premier League games against Wolves and Chelsea, which leaves Klopp hoping that Arthur can get up to speed swiftly, despite his lack of game time.
Thiago is also still sidelined, along with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita, leaving him with just James Milner, Fabinho and Harvey Elliott to cover, though with Curtis Jones also returning to training this week.
Melo is available to go straight into the squad this weekend, and Klopp is hoping that Liverpool’s analytics department have pulled up another tarnished diamond to be polished at Anfield.
The player was regarded as one of Brazil’s most exciting talents in a generation before signing for Barca, but lost his way because of the politics and financial problems at the Nou Camp.
He also suffered with some injury problems at Juve, and the fact that they changed manager - and playing style - so frequently, meaning that he often found himself out of the side.
