Sources: Liverpool agree £40m Arthur Melo deal as new details emerge
Liverpool have agreed a deal for Arthur Melo worth £40million including fees and wages, sources have told Football Insider.
The Merseysiders announced one hour before the window shut on Thursday night they have agreed to sign the midfielder, 26, on loan from Juventus.
The deal includes a buy option set at £32.5m, which comes into effect at the end of the season, as well as a loan fee of £4m.
In addition, Liverpool will pay most of Arthur’s £4.3million-a-year salary, equivalent to around £80,000-a-week.
The Brazil international was made available by Juventus after failing to figure for the team in their opening matches of the new campaign.
His career has stalled after he joined the Serie A giants from Barcelona in the summer of 2020 for a fee worth £72m at the time.
Arthur made 63 appearances in his two full seasons at Juve, but that includes only 13 Champions League and Serie A starts among his 31 appearances last term.
Considered more of a squad player than a regular starter at the Italian giants, Arthur has opted to join Liverpool in a bid to revive his career.
He will be competing with the likes of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Harvey Elliott, James Milner and Curtis Jones for a spot in Jurgen Klopp’s midfield.
The manager is currently without Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain due to serious injuries.
Henderson joined the casualty list when he suffered a hamstring injury in Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Newcastle United that has ruled him out of Saturday’s Merseyside derby against Everton.
In other news, Bellingham cited as Liverpool backed to complete ‘last-gasp’ signing.