Liverpool are poised to wrap up a shock deadline day swoop for Arthur Melo - but only after other Premier League clubs snubbed a move due to the Brazilian's excessive salary.
Jurgen Klopp had insisted earlier this month that the Reds were unlikely to dip back into the transfer market after they had concluded deals for Fabio Carvalho, Darwin Nunez and Calvin Ramsey earlier this summer.
However, that stance has softened in the wake of the numerous injuries that the Reds have since accumulated in midfield - and Liverpool are now on the cusp of snapping up Arthur, who is surplus to requirements at Juventus, on a season-long loan deal ahead of Thursday night's 11pm deadline.
The Brazilian midfielder was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal back in January and has reportedly been pursued by other Premier League sides in recent weeks, however, a new report from UOL has outlined that Arthur's €6million (£5.1m) salary put off many potential suitors.
Juventus offered the 26-year-old's services to numerous clubs in recent days, including Arsenal, Lyon, Roma, Rennes, Sporting Lisbon and Valencia. But none were willing to take on Arthur's wages for the season.
Despite hesitation elsewhere, Liverpool have now made a decisive move and emerged as Arthur's most likely destination, with reports claiming that the former Gremio man is poised to undergo a medical at Anfield on Thursday afternoon.
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An influx of injuries in midfield have forced the Reds back into the market at the eleventh hour; the likes of Thiago Alcantara, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Curtis Jones are all currently sidelined, while Klopp also confirmed that club captain Jordan Henderson had picked up a hamstring issue during Wednesday night's dramatic 2-1 win over Newcastle United.
Klopp hinted that Henderson's injury was likely to heighten the need for additional recruits - although he stressed that there were no guarantees that any deals could be struck in the final hours of the transfer window.
When quizzed on potential transfer business, he told BT Sport: "I don’t think so. But as long as there’s time we should not close the door completely. Obviously, Hendo’s hamstring [injury] is not helpful."
Liverpool were expected to resist the urge to sign a new midfielder this summer in order to launch an ambitious swoop for Borussia Dortmund's England star Jude Bellingham next summer.
The former Birmingham City youngster is believed to be Liverpool's top midfielder target but is currently unattainable as Dortmund are reluctant to sell another of their prized assets after losing Erling Haaland to Manchester City earlier in the summer.
