Liverpool saw their late attempts to sign Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz turned down, reports Sky Sports News. This led to a far greater push forward for the signing of his fellow Brazilian midfielder Arthur Melo as an alternative.
Liverpool’s Late Bid to Sign Douglas Luiz Fails
Luiz Prefers a Move to Arsenal
With Jurgen Klopp recently admitting that his side needs to sign a new midfielder because of so many injuries in the squad, there has been a lot of speculation over which player they’ll go for. It seems like the Reds were interested in signing a player with Premier League experience in the form of Luiz.
Read More: Liverpool Priced Out of Move for Villarreal Defender Pau Torres
However, Aston Villa refused to make a deal with them and their late interest in him wasn’t met with encouragement. Sky Sports also adds that the Brazilian midfielder – once dubbed as ‘outstanding’ by ex-Villa forward Gabby Agbonlahor – is keen on a move to Arsenal, who have had a few bids rejected in the summer transfer window.
Douglas Luiz, pushing to join Arsenal. He wants the move and official talks are ongoing on £20m fee — personal terms not an issue. 🚨⚪️🔴 #AFC #DeadlineDay
Aston Villa will also announce Dendoncker as new signing soon. pic.twitter.com/K2I2OTaWOX
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 1, 2022
Liverpool Set for Dramatic End to Transfer Window
Klopp’s side were proactive in the transfer market early in the window, as the gaffer wanted most of his priority targets secured before the season started. After selling Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich, Liverpool broke the bank to sign Darwin Nunez from Benfica for a whopping club-record £85 million fee.
When the Merseyside club played out two draws in their opening three games, it was obvious that they needed to bolster their squad with more players.
Read More: Liverpool Midfield Targets Revealed After Jurgen Klopp Admission
That is why Klopp is likely to sign Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo on loan, after he had lost his place in the Juventus starting XI. The 26-year-old made 31 appearances for the Bianconeri last season, only managing to register a single assist across all competitions.
Arthur is unlikely to be a first-team regular for Liverpool but should help improve their depth in midfield. He also guarantees more options for Klopp, in what is guaranteed to be an exhausting campaign featuring a World Cup and several potential trophies.
