Jorge Mendes is holding talks over a deal that could see Juventus’ former Liverpool loanee Arthur Melo return to the Premier League with Wolves this summer.
Where the 26-year-old Brazil international is concerned, the eternal debate is whether the potential rewards offset the undoubted risk.
Arthur Melo, at Liverpool in 2022/23, played only 13 minutes of football. He did not make a single Premier League appearance during an injury-hit loan spell that would make Kim Kallstrom’s Arsenal stint look like an unqualified success by comparison.
What’s more, Arthur has not started more than 15 league games in a single season since 2018/19 at Barcelona.
So reports suggesting that the 22-cap Selecao star could now end up at Molineux – super-agent Jorge Mendes opening talks regarding a shock switch to Wolves on Monday – is likely to fans of a glass-half-full persuasion fearing the worst.
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Wolves are in talks over Arthur Melo
Arthur, Calciomercato report, could join Wolves on a season-long loan deal; much like the arrangement which took him to Liverpool a year ago.
There is interest from Crystal Palace. But the influence of Mendes – who has played such a key role in Wolves’ rise from the depths of the Championship during the Fosun era – makes Wolves the obvious favourites to secure Arthur’s signature.
Now, there is no doubting the raw talent of a fully-fit Arthur Melo. Calciomercato report that Wolves see him as a potential replacement for the departed Ruben Neves. And this alone speaks volumes about Arthur’s artistry and guile in possession.
Former Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi once likened the former Gremio starlet to Xavi due to his supreme self-confidence and his metronomic passing. A comparison Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand agreed with.
“This man, Arthur, has been magnificent,” Ferdinand told BT Sport after the playmaker ran the show during Barcelona’s 4-2 Champions League victory over Tottenham in 2018.
“Xavi-esque.”
Arthur joined Juventus for a staggering £61 million back in 2020 ; Miralem Pjanic moving in the other direction. But his hopes of a career revival at Wolves depends on whether he can stay clear of the treatment table.
If he does, Arthur could be the perfect playmaking foil to a Wolves midfield high on industry but low on inspiration after the departures of Neves and Joao Moutinho.
But if he doesn’t? Can Arthur’s reputation really survive another season ruined by injury?