Liverpool are attempting to complete the loan signing of Arthur Melo from Juventus in order to solve their midfield crisis.

• Brazilian set to undergo medical on Thursday.
• Reds have looked at a host of other options this summer.
• Henderson injury has added to Jurgen Klopp’s woes.

WHAT IS GOING ON? The 26-year-old Brazilian international is scheduled to have a medical with the Reds on Thursday as they look to complete a deal before the transfer window closes. According to GOAL, there will be no option to make the move permanent, with the deal viewed as a short-term solution to Liverpool’s midfield injury crisis.

THE BIGGER PICTURE: The Reds are currently missing Naby Keita, Thiago Alcantara, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain through injury, with Jordan Henderson injuring his hamstring in Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Newcastle. After failing to sign RB Leipzig midfielder Konrad Laimer, Liverpool have turned their attention to Arthur, who is out of favour at Juventus despite making 31 appearances in all competitions last season.

AND WHAT’S MORE: Jurgen Klopp has admitted that he was wrong to suggest in July that Liverpool did not need midfield reinforcements. With a Merseyside derby against Everton coming up this weekend, and a Champions League trip to Napoli following on from that, the Reds boss knows his squad needs all the help it can get at this moment.

IN TWO PHOTOS: Arthur arrives with European pedigree…

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But it’s Henderson’s injury which has forced Liverpool’s hand…

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THE VERDICT: It’s far from the solution many would have predicted for Liverpool when talking about midfield reinforcements this summer, but it’s a body at least, and a player with a fair bit of top-level pedigree. Arthur is very much a stop-gap signing, but arrives with experience of playing for big clubs in Barcelona and Juventus, as well as with 22 caps for Brazil to his name. He should be aided by the presence of Fabinho, Roberto Firmino and Alisson Becker in terms of settling in, and with plenty of games coming up in the next few weeks, it should not be long before we see him thrown in at the deep end by Jurgen Klopp. Sink or swim? Only time will tell.

WHAT NEXT FOR ARTHUR & LIVERPOOL? The Reds travel to Goodison Park to face Everton on Saturday, and Arthur could be registered in time to feature in that game.