So in the end Liverpool did buy a midfielder, but it just wasn't exactly the midfielder many expected.
The name of Arthur Melo wasn't one that had been linked with the Reds all summer until suddenly we became aware that he was boarding a flight from Turin to Merseyside on Thursday morning.
It was news that came out of the blue somewhat, and was influenced by the hamstring injury Jordan Henderson had suffered in the 2-1 win over Newcastle the previous evening.
That it took an injury to their club captain to spur the Reds into action is something that has been lamented by much of the club's fanbase, with Liverpool's start to the season seeing them depleted in midfield as Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Curtis Jones have all had spells on the sidelines.
Henderson's issue - which could see him miss the five matches up to the international break - was seemingly the straw which broke the camel's back then, with a call going into Artur's agents almost immediately after the final whistle on Wednesday.
But who stands to gain from the arrival of the midfielder on loan from Juventus? And who stands to lose out?
Here's a look at winners and losers from Liverpool, and a little further afield.
WINNERS
Fabinho
One of the first to send a welcome message to the new arrival, midfielder Fabinho is sure to be happy with the addition of his fellow Brazilian, who he called his "brother" in a message on Instagram.
The pair have featured six times in midfield together for Brazil, with the Selecao staying unbeaten in all those games, and he is likely to welcome another steady influence in the middle of the park after his own form dipped somewhat in the latter weeks of last season and into the start of this one.
Another body capable of sitting alongside him and recycling the ball will help the former Monaco man, and Arthur's arrival could be the catalyst he needs.
Harvey Elliott
Jurgen Klopp has committed to Elliott from the start of Liverpool's last four matches, and the arrival of Arthur could see that continue.
The Brazilian is mostly at home playing on the left side of a midfield three, similar to Thiago, meaning that the modified right side position can still be Elliott's as he continues to shine there this season.
With Henderson now out for a few weeks, Elliott will surely be given the role once more, and he's made a perfect start to what looks a real breakthrough season.
Jude Bellingham
Okay we're bending the rules a little here, but Arthur's temporary arrival - although it has been confirmed by Juventus that the switch could be made permanent - indicates that there is still the room for the big-hitter midfield signing Liverpool want.
For months the indications have been that that will be Dortmund's Bellingham, especially after the Reds missed out on Aurelien Tchouameni to Real Madrid, and now the path looks clear for a major move to be made to bring Bellingham to Anfield next summer, when there are set to be midfield departures.
Bellingham has been the name on supporters' lips for quite some time now, but although the possibility of it would have been explored at the beginning of the window, there was little to no chance of the Reds snapping him up this summer as Dortmund adjusted to losing Erling Haaland to Manchester City.
The England man looks like being the future of Klopp's team, even more so now.
LOSERS
Curtis Jones
This is harsh on the homegrown product, who is yet to make a league appearance this season after picking up another unfortunate injury in the Community Shield win over Manchester City.
But having been moulded into a more robust and sturdier midfielder in the past couple of years, Jones had come to be regarded as Thiago's reserve on the left of the three. Now he has competition for that place.
He's good enough to feature elsewhere, or even muscle Arthur out of the position, but after returning to fitness and taking a place on the bench against Newcastle he'll have seen Henderson's injury as a perfect chance for him to nail down a place, although it still can be.
Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
We're at the point where we can really start to group these two together, such has been the disappointment that has greeted their injuries this season and the fact that they just have one year left on their respective deals.
You get the sense that Klopp was left disappointed by the manner of Keita's injury ahead of the clash at Manchester United, a blow that forced him to start with James Milner at late notice, and it could well be that the Guinean is running out of time to convince the Reds that he is worth a new deal - that is indeed if he wants one at all, as there has been little noise on it from his camp.
Oxlade-Chamberlain may well have gone already were it not for his pre-season injury, and he could well make a January exit if he returns to fitness before then.
