Image Credits: Imago Images
It has been a remarkably busy week for individuals with Liverpool connections as they secured moves to new destinations across the globe.
Former Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has completed what represents the 14th transfer of his nomadic career after agreeing a two-and-a-half-year contract with Al-Ittifaq FC in Dubai. The 35-year-old Italian, who has been a free agent since his Genoa contract expired in June 2025, will officially be registered with the Emirati club from January 12 and traveled to Dubai on Friday to finalize the arrangement.
Elsewhere, former Liverpool academy coach Gary O’Neil has been appointed as the new manager of French Ligue 1 side Strasbourg, replacing Liam Rosenior who departed to take over at Chelsea earlier this week. The 42-year-old Englishman, who was sacked by Wolverhampton Wanderers in December 2024, will lead his first match on Saturday in the French Cup against Avranches.
O’Neil spent six months at Liverpool between August 2020 and February 2021 as assistant coach to Barry Lewtas with the club’s Under-23 side.
Strasbourg president Marc Keller described O’Neil as “a respected and demanding coach with a contemporary approach to football that aligns seamlessly with our sporting vision”.
And now it looks like another former Liverpool man in Arthur Melo could be securing a transfer his own. Arthur is currently on loan at Brazilian outfit Grêmio from Juventus, and the Porto Alegre are looking to make the deal a permanent one.
Italian reporter Nicolò Schira has reported:
“Gremio want to keep Arthur Melo on a permanent deal from Juventus. The loan expires in June, but Tricolor have opened talks to try to buy him. Juve ask €10M. Ready for the midfielder a contract until December 2029.”
Arthur’s loan spell at Liverpool during the 2022-23 season ranks among the most forgettable in the club’s recent history. He made just one appearance for Liverpool – a 13-minute substitute cameo in a 4-1 Champions League defeat in 2022. Within days, Arthur suffered a serious thigh injury in training that required surgery and ruled him out for three to four months.
By the time he returned to fitness in early 2023, Liverpool’s midfield options had recovered from their own injury crisis, leaving the Brazilian surplus to requirements.
#Gremio want to keep #Arthur Melo on a permanent deal from #Juventus. The loan expires in June, but Tricolor have opened talks to try to buy him. #Juve ask €10M. Ready for the midfielder a contract until December 2029. #transfers
— Nicolò Schira (@NicoSchira) January 8, 2026
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