Jurgen Klopp did not harbour much hope when questioned on whether Liverpool would sign another midfielder when facing reporters on Wednesday night.
However, less than 24 hours later it looks like the Reds are on the verge of landing Brazilian international Arthur on a season-long loan from Juventus. Klopp addressed reporters and discussed what impact the hamstring injury sustained by Jordan Henderson in the 2-1 win over Newcastle may have had on their deadline day dealings.
"I don’t think so," the Reds boss said on a possible move for a midfielder. "But as long as there's time we should not close the door completely. Obviously, Hendo's hamstring [injury] is not helpful."
Things progress quickly in football and just the morning after those comments Arthur has flown from Turin into Liverpool to undergo a medical ahead of a proposed loan switch.
With that in mind, Mirror Football has taken a look at some of the notable shirt numbers he could inherit.
10 - Few could turn down the honour of being the number 10 for a club of Liverpool's stature. Left vacant by the recently-departed Sadio Mane, were Arthur to take this on he would have big shoes to fill.
Considering the number usually goes to forwards or playmakers, it's not as if Arthur's playing style fits with a stereotypical number 10.
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16 - Hardly an illustrious shirt number in the history of Liverpool, the 16 shirt has been worn previously by the likes of Jermaine Pennant, Sebastian Coates and Sotirios Kyrgiakos - three players that hardly lit up Anfield during their time at the club.
Arthur may want to steer clear.
18 - This could prove to be a tempting one for the Brazilian, as he has previously donned the number 18 for Gremio in his home country during the early stages of his career.
The shirt was last worn by Takumi Minamino, for whom it never really worked out at Anfield and he was sold this summer to Monaco after two-and-a-half years at the club following his acquisition from RB Salzburg.
24 - This number has a history of being donned by fellow midfielders, with the likes of Danny Murphy and Joe Allen also taking the number 24 during their respective times at the club.
29 - Another one of Arthur's former numbers, the midfielder clearly has an affinity with this figure. Arthur wore 29 on the back of his Gremio shirt during his last seasons in Brazil.
Perhaps more crucially, he has also recently inherited the 29 shirt at Juventus despite the fact he was actually the Turin-based titan's number five for the last two campaigns.
31 - Granted, not a particularly glamorous shirt number for a new signing to inherit. With that in mind, the last player to wear this shirt for Liverpool went on to achieve big things in Raheem Sterling.
35 - Another one of Arthur's former shirt numbers from his days at Gremio, this number may hold a particularly special place in the Brazilian's heart given it was the first one he ever wore in senior football.
It must be said that those who have gone before him should he choose the number 35 have not achieved massive success at the club, with Conor Coady the most notable name to don the shirt.
