Rafa Benitez will be delighted to hear that Rick Parry has sewn up a permanent deal for Mark Gonzales – subject to his aquisition of a work permit.
The Chilean winger was due to sign for the Reds on a season-long loan deal during the close-season, but the decision then not to allow him a work permit meant the deal couldn’t go through. It was felt at the time that the reason for the refusal may have been due to the deal being unusually structured. Gonzales was injured and not expected to play until around now, which is why Liverpool agreed the deal would start with a loan. Had Gonzales proved his fitness over that season then Liverpool would have turned the deal into a permanent one.
Now though it seems Liverpool have seen enough of the player’s recovery to set the permanent deal up. It will not be able to go ahead until the transfer window is opened in the winter, but the agreements are all in place according to Liverpool FC’s website. A spokesman explained the deal: "Following the player’s knee injury, the original intention was to take him on loan with an option to make the deal permanent. As Mark is recovering well, a loan deal is no longer an issue and we have agreed a long term contract to bring him to Anfield."
The only possible snag will be the player getting the clearance to play in the UK. The spokesman said: "However, he will only play for Liverpool once he obtains either a work permit or European passport."