Newcastle handed boost in pursuit of Liverpool flop as wantaway star could be available for free this summer

Newcastle have been handed a boost in pursuit of a Serie A star as one of their transfer targets could be available for free this summer.

It recently came to light that Newcastle have been keeping tabs on Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo.

The Brazilian struggled to stay fit while on loan with Liverpool last season and his future in Italy is now up in the air.

Arthur was unable to make his Premier League debut for the Reds due to injury issues and he seems to be surplus to requirements back in Italy.

Newcastle were said to be considering a loan deal for Arthur, although they could end up signing him on a free transfer instead.

The Brazilian is contracted with Juventus until 2025, although TuttoSport have reported that the Italian club is considering terminating his contract.

Arthur’s future with the Italian club is set to be determined by mid-July at the latest so that all parties know where they currently stand.

The report also mentions Brighton, although their interest does not appear to be concrete at this point. Aston Villa have also been linked with the 26-year-old.

While his spell at Liverpool didn’t go to plan, he does have plenty of redeeming factors. The 26-year-old has been capped 22 times by Brazil and he has made plenty of appearances for Barcelona and Juventus over the years.

Newcastle do have a core of Brazilian players in their dressing room who would make a player like Arthur feel at home right away.

Arthur praised for impact behind the scenes

There’s no denying that Arthur’s spell at Liverpool was a disappointment as he only featured in one first-team match for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

However, the Brazilian has been praised for his role behind the scenes. While building up his fitness, Arthur featured in the Premier League 2, alongside Liverpool’s youngsters.

Former Liverpool youngster Charlie Hayes-Green told the Liverpool Echo that the Brazilian star was great with the younger players.

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“He was really good, a proper professional. Before the game, it was a fantastic opportunity for me to be around players who have played in such big games.

“He’s obviously played for Juventus, Barcelona and huge teams with huge players, being around him and how he did things was so professional.

“He came down, was humble, spoke to all of us and helped us in the changing room and throughout the game so it was a good experience.”

With Newcastle heading into the Champions League next season, adding a player with the experience of Arthur could be useful.

Howe will be wary of his injury record, but he could be tempted by a cut-price deal. If his contract with Juventus is terminated, a free transfer could be on the cards this summer.

READ MORE: Impending Newcastle signing exposes ‘some problems’ as international manager admits sense of ‘regret’

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