Liverpool are not planning to send Arthur Melo back to Juventus in January, it has been claimed. Reports early on Friday suggested the Brazilian could go back to Turin in the winter but that has since been refuted.
Liverpool signed Arthur on a season-long loan from Juve on transfer deadline day. He emerged as a late target for Jurgen Klopp due to the injury crisis in midfield at Anfield.
The Reds were without Thiago Alcantara and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with hamstring injuries, while Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita are now out with their own respective problems. Thiago has returned but the other three will not be back until after the international break at the earliest.
Arthur has made one substitute appearance so far, coming on in the 4-1 Champions League loss to Napoli. But despite his lack of football, Klopp is not planning to send him back to Italy.
READ MORE: Chelsea outcast sent savage transfer demand ahead of January window
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims Arthur will be staying at Liverpool for the season. Both the club and the player’s side have denied reports to the contrary.
Arthur is currently focusing on reaching his peak fitness at Liverpool. He has not been named in the Brazil squad for the upcoming matches against Ghana and Tunisia, which gives him the chance to continue to acclimatise to his new surroundings in the Premier League.
Former Reds manager and midfielder Graeme Souness recently raised doubts over Arthur’s suitability to English football. Souness claimed Liverpool need a different type of midfielder to the 26-year-old, writing in the Daily Mail: “There’s no doubting the quality of Liverpool’s latest addition, Arthur Melo.
“But will he be able to deal with the intensity of the English game, given that Liverpool play games of cup final intensity every weekend and everyone always has to be at it? I do think there is room in that midfield for another high-intensity workaholic who can also deliver a cute pass.
DON’T MISS
Arsenal dealt blow as Ukrainian FA confirm Zinchenko injury timeframe
Tottenham board’s four options to replace Conte if he seals Juventus return
Man Utd transfer meetings confirmed by Ten Hag with January possibilities
“Go back to Liverpool’s best midfield of three or four years ago. You had Gini Wijnaldum. Workaholic. James Milner. Workaholic. Jordan Henderson. Workaholic.”
Arthur will not make his Premier League debut this weekend as Liverpool are not in action. Their trip to Chelsea was postponed due to police limitations in the lead-up to the Queen’s state funeral on Monday.
Liverpool host Brighton on October 1 in their next Premier League match. They could potentially be 12 points behind leaders Arsenal heading into that encounter.
Want the latest Premier League news as we publish it on Express Sport? Join our new Facebook group by clicking here
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
