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Topics: Liverpool, Premier League, Juventus, Transfers
Ryan Smart
Topics: Liverpool, Premier League, Juventus, Transfers
Liverpool loanee Arthur Melo has played just 13 minutes of football for the Reds since joining in August - touching the ball on 21 occasions in that time.
It has been a torrid campaign for the Brazil midfielder, who arrived on deadline day on loan from Juventus as Jurgen Klopp looked to bolster his midfield.
The 26-year-old was on the bench for Liverpool's 0-0 draw against Everton in the Merseyside derby in September, before making his debut in the Champions League group stage defeat to Napoli.
But that would, up until now, be his only appearance in a Reds shirt. He suffered a thigh injury in the same month which required surgery, and missed 26 games as a result.
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Since his return, Arthur has appeared on the bench on several occasions, but is yet to make his on-pitch comeback from injury.
Having been left out of the squad entirely for the last three matches, it could be that he has already played his final game for the Reds.
But how much has the midfielder cost the club per touch of the ball?
According to Sky Sports, Liverpool shelled out a loan fee of £3.9 million to bring in Arthur from Juventus at the beginning of the campaign.
And The Sun claim the midfielder is on a £98,000-a-week deal from Juventus - with the Reds paying most of his salary.
The overall cost per touch of the ball, therefore, is a rough estimation, but providing the above figures are correct, each of Arthur's 21 touches has cost Liverpool a total of £342,857.
It is a loan deal that simply hasn't worked out for the Reds. The Athletic, alongside providing the figure of 21 touches, say that the Brazilian is preparing return to Turin at the end of the current season.
Whether he plays a part for Juve next season is unclear, but the 26-year-old will be desperate to stay injury-free next season and recapture the form that led Barcelona to pay an initial fee of €31 million to sign him in 2018.
Given Arthur has now been under contract at three of world football's biggest clubs, the talent is certainly there - but he is a case of what could have been for Klopp and Liverpool.