ESPN pundit Steve Nicol claims Arthur Melo has been a disastrous signing for Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool.
Speaking on ESPN FC, the former Red backed new arrival Cody Gakpo for an illustrious career at Anfield.
However, by doing so, he took aim at the Juventus loanee.
“Gakpo’s a good signing. He’s a young player and there’s no question that there’s loads of potential there,” Nicol said.
“It’s not like [Jurgen Klopp] has signed another Arthur, shall we say. Now that was a complete shambles – so it’s not one of them.
“This guy can play, this guy will absolutely help Liverpool in the future.”
Nicol says Melo’s loan has been a ‘complete shambles’
During the last few days of the summer transfer window, Klopp admitted that his team needed midfield reinforcements, with Jordan Henderson, Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita all out injured.
Therefore, on deadline day, Liverpool brought in Melo on loan from Juventus – who cost them £3.9m for the season.
However, having played just 13 minutes of first-team football for the club, the 26-year-old tore a quad muscle back in October, which subsequently required surgery – ruling him out for three months.
Just a week ago, Klopp revealed the midfielder may be ‘two or three weeks’ away from training with the squad. Therefore, hopefully he can get back to full fitness as soon as possible, in order to give the manager an extra option in the middle of the park.
Liverpool supporters are fully behind the Brazilian, so it would be great to see him get first-team minutes before he returns to Turin at the end of the season.