Arthur Melo's agent has stated outright that the midfielder will 'stay 100%' at Liverpool beyond January amid promising claims that he will return from injury ahead of schedule.
Arthur arrived at Anfield on deadline day, securing a season-long loan move from Juventus as Jurgen Klopp looked to bolster his midfield options. But with just 13 minutes under his belt - a fleeting substitute appearance in the 4-1 Champions League defeat at Napoli - before a serious muscle injury, it would be fair to say the last four months have not gone to plan.
Arthur underwent surgery at the start October with an initial prognosis of three to four months keeping him out until potentially the start of February. And his rocky start to life at Liverpool had led to speculation that the club might look to terminate his loan deal with Juve in the winter. But Federico Pastorello, the 26-year-old's agent, has rubbished such claims.
READ MORE: Arthur Melo agent makes big Liverpool transfer claim and explains late summer deal
"He will stay 100% at Liverpool in January,” Pastorello told Tuttomercatoweb . “It's an aspect that has never been under discussion, I don't know who questioned the rumours about his possible return to Turin, but that's not the case. Absolutely.
“It's not foreseen in the contract and there's no possibility because no-one has questioned his permanence: neither Liverpool nor the player. As for next season, the current one ends and then we'll see: there's no real right of redemption but obviously by continuing (with Massimiliano) Allegri at Juve a solution will have to be found.
“So if Liverpool wanted to renew the loan or make an offer, in my opinion they would find fertile ground.”
Arthur flew out to Dubai earlier this month with the rest of the Liverpool squad as they enjoyed some warm-weather training and two friendlies against Lyon and AC Milan. The Brazilian was not expected to feature in either game, but stepped up his rehabilitation programme as a return to play closes in.
And that return may be closer than many believe, with Pastorello detailing how the loanee's work behind the scenes has left him three weeks ahead of schedule going into Christmas.
"He is a determined boy and proof of this is the fact that he is forging ahead to get back on the pitch,” Pastorello added. “He is three weeks ahead of his schedule. He has recovered 30% earlier than expected and he should be ready for what is the start of the new championship."
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