Liverpool reportedly attempted a deadline day move for Denis Zakaria before Chelsea completed their deal to sign the midfielder from Juventus on loan.
Jurgen Klopp had been on the search in the final hours of this summer’s transfer window for reinforcements to freshen his injury-hit midfield ranks and had identified the Swiss international Zakaria as a viable target.
According to the Sky Sports’ Gianluca Di Marzio, the Anfield camp had been keen on bringing in Zakaria before agreeing upon terms with Juventus to sign another of their midfielders, Arthur Melo, in a loan deal.
Arthur’s arrival provides the Liverpool head coach Klopp with another quality option in the engine room at a time when the injury list in the Reds fold has continued to grow just five games into the new campaign.
Skipper Jordan Henderson was the latest to be sidelined for a number of weeks with the midfield anchorman limping off the pitch due to a hamstring issue in Liverpool’s midweek 2-1 win over Newcastle United.