Liverpool hope to know within days whether their latest application for a work permit for Chile winger Mark Gonzalez has been successful.


They will formally submit their second application for the 21-year-old on Thursday, having had a similar bid plus an appeal both rejected during the past 12 months.
Gonzalez, who was recovering from a serious knee injury when Liverpool first applied a year ago, has been on loan at Real Sociedad since January and figured prominently in their fight to avoid relegation from La Liga. The fact he has shown he can play at the highest level in Spain - he scored against Real Madrid recently - will also help Liverpool make out a case for him meeting the required criteria for a permit.

Liverpool have confirmed that their latest plea to be able to add Gonzalez to their squad has been submitted by letter to the Home Office, and if it is granted they should hear within the next few days.


Liverpool had their first bid to sign Gonzalez rejected because Chile were not in the top 70 FIFA rankings and they were only initially trying to sign the player on a year's loan because of his injury problems.
At stake is a £4million move, subject to the permit being granted, from Albacete. But Liverpool now believe they meet all the requirements, although manager Rafael Benitez and chief executive Rick Parry - both away on holiday - will nervously await the verdict.



Gonzalez said:

"I have thrown myself into everything that was Liverpool from the moment I knew I could be joining them.
"I know the majority of Liverpool players through their worldwide name and reputation."

Gonzalez has been to the club's Melwood headquarters to train with the players, and in a LFC magazine interview, said:

"I have watched their games on TV and really cared about the results and what was happening in the game.
"Now I just cannot wait to start my career at Anfield. I have seen a nice apartment by the waterfront in Liverpool but when I will get the chance to live there I do not know.
"Let's hope the work permit can be sorted out as soon as possible."

Source: Sporting Life