Liverpool have decided to bid farewell to on-loan midfielder Arthur Melo this summer, according to sources at Football Insider.
Arthur Melo to leave Liverpool
The Brazilian’s injury-ridden season has led to the Merseyside club declining the option to sign him permanently, giving Melo the freedom to explore new opportunities in the off-season.
Melo has only featured in one senior game for Liverpool this season, and while he has returned to fitness following thigh surgery, the club is looking to bolster its midfield options for the upcoming campaign.
Liverpool’s Thiago Alcantara is expected to be part of the squad to face Arsenal on Sunday, but Melo’s departure will likely be followed by several others in the midfield area.
Liverpool’s midfield has struggled this season, with key players like Jordan Henderson and Fabinho underperforming and others like Naby Keita and Thiago Alcantara experiencing injury problems.
Liverpool have been linked to several midfielders in recent weeks, and it remains to be seen if manager Jurgen Klopp can strengthen that area of his squad considerably during the summer transfer window.
Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are also out of contract in June, while Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham is believed to be Liverpool’s top midfield target. Matheus Nunes is also on Liverpool’s radar, despite Wolves removing his release clause.
Liverpool are likely to miss out on Champions League football next season, leaving them to focus on strengthening their squad ahead of domestic competitions.
Lack of opportunity for Melo
Liverpool signed Arthur Melo on loan from Juventus during the January transfer window, hoping to add more depth to their midfield. However, Melo has been plagued with injuries and played only 76 minutes for Liverpool’s first team.
It’s a shame that Melo never had the chance to prove his worth to Liverpool, as misfortune prevented him from ever getting going on Merseyside.
Melo arrived at Anfield with a solid reputation, having played over 150 games for Barcelona, Juventus, and Brazil combined. Nevertheless, his lack of playing time at Liverpool means he will have to look for a new club to continue his career.
Let’s hope Melo can get a few games at least to make an impact at Anfield before he departs, and if he can contribute towards a strong finish to the campaign, he’d at least go back to Juventus having shown that it was worth Liverpool’s while getting him in on loan.