Juventus outcast Arthur Melo has drawn interest from Lazio after returning to Serie A from an underwhelming loan spell at Liverpool. But according to Corriere dello Sport (via Tuttomercatoweb), the Biancocelesti may find it challenging to match the midfielder’s whopping salary.
Arthur spent last season at Anfield, where he failed to register a start in the Premier League. His disastrous campaign on Merseyside facilitated his swift return to Turin as Liverpool showed no ambition to give him a second chance. It seems Juventus are also reluctant to 26-year-old’s poor form any longer.
The record-time Italian champions have put their overpaid flop up for sale. However, they’ve yet to receive concrete proposals for the former Barcelona ace. Juventus spent a massive €72 million to sign Arthur in the summer of 2020. Three years of sub-par showings, and they cannot recoup half that figure.
But they’re still poised to get rid of his salary. Lazio would be ready to jump to their aid if only they could find a way to cope with his wages. Arthur would probably need to take a pay cut to join forces with Maurizio Sarri’s team. Or the sides may have to share the wage burden.
Nonetheless, Sarri sees Arthur as an upgrade on his current options, barring Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, of course. Yet, the Serb could leave the Stadio Olimpico in the coming weeks, even though Lazio’s €40m asking price has scared off the 28-year-old’s suitors. There’s a feeling a long-running saga of the playmaker’s future still has one twist waiting around the corner.