John Barnes has backed Arthur Melo to become a Liverpool player in the long-term - but on one condition.
The Reds signed Arthur on loan for the rest of the season from Juventus on transfer deadline day. Liverpool moved quickly before the window closed to bring in a new midfielder amid the club’s ongoing injury problems in that area of the pitch.
Arthur was only linked with Liverpool in the hours before his signing was completed. The rest of the window was spent dominated by talk of players such as Jude Bellingham, Aurelien Tchouameni, among others, possibly moving to Anfield.
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So far, Arthur’s only appearance this season was his cameo late on during the 4-1 defeat to Napoli in the Champions League last week. Liverpool legend Barnes has given his verdict on the Reds’ decision to move for Arthur, and what it could mean for the future of the club’s midfield.
Barnes believes that Arthur could potentially be a long-term option for Liverpool’s midfield, but only if he performs at the right level.
“Well, of course we know what a good player he (Arthur Melo) is,” Barnes told BonusCodeBets . “While we know that it’s not a signing like Jude Bellingham but he’s not a stopgap because of course, he’s a very good player.
“So, if everyone’s fit and they get the players they want, you would think that Arthur may not necessarily be the first name in the team sheet. But if he comes in and he does well, he will be the first name on the team sheet. That’s what Jurgen Klopp does.
“But obviously, you know, this (Arthur's transfer) is, well, a necessity but as Jurgen Klopp has said, it has to make sense. And in ‘making sense’, he means a player who can come and help us.
“As Jurgen Klopp has said he’ll only make signings that make sense and making sense means that, we’re not gonna spend a lot of money on players, just out of panic.
“He’s a really good player and for now, is what we need. But if he does well, I’m sure that he will also be a player for the future, if he does well enough.”
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