Liverpool were interested in Denis Zakaria before he moved to Chelsea
Liverpool tried to sign Denis Zakaria from Juventus on deadline day, according to Gianluca Di Marzio (h/t Liverpool Echo). However, the Switzerland international has ended up at Chelsea. The Reds have instead signed Arthur Melo from the Old Lady on loan.
The Merseysiders have an evident midfield crisis on their hands. Jurgen Klopp has had to deal with a lot of injuries early in the season. Thus, some more additions were necessary during the transfer window.
Zakaria and Arthur were teammates at Juventus. The Switzerland international signed for the Serie A giants in the January window of 2022. On the other hand, Liverpool’s deadline day signing made his way to Turin from Barcelona in 2020.
Juventus have parted ways with two of their midfielders on deadline day. Zakaria has played most of his career in the defensive midfield position. The 25-year-old is a robust player who has good passing and dribbling skills and is full of running.
Arthur has a different profile from that of his former Serie A teammate. The Brazilian is a more natural central midfielder, keeps hold of the ball well and is suited to a possession-based style of play.
Currently, Liverpool have a host of midfielders out on the sidelines. Thiago Alcantara played the first game of the season against Fulham but has since been out of the squad with an injury.
Naby Keita hasn’t been featured yet for the side in the 2022/23 campaign while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is another player Klopp hasn’t been able to call upon this season. Jordan Henderson also sustained an injury against Newcastle United.
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Liverpool needed reinforcements in the middle of the park and got Arthur. However, fans might feel that the Brazilian lacks intensity in his game, which Zakaria possesses. It remains to be seen how the 26-year-old fares in Merseyside.
