Everton had reportedly agreed a £13m deal to bring River Plate midfielder Santiago Sosa to the Premier League.
Everton’s £13 million deal to sign River Plate youngster Santiago Sosa is in doubt with La Pagina Millionaria claiming that the Premier League outfit have seen their application for a work permit denied.
Sosa looked set to become Marcel Brands’ first signing of the summer with One Football claiming that an agreement to bring the highly-rated 20-year-old to Goodison Park had all-but been reached.
His agent, Hernan Berman, was even ready to travel to England to put the finishing touches on a deal.
But reports from Sosa’s native Argentina on Monday suggest that Everton cannot afford to put their feet up and relax just yet.
As he plays outside the EU and is yet to represent the Argentina national team on a senior level, it was always going to be tricky obtaining a work permit for a player who has made just 12 first-team appearances in his burgeoning career.
And the report claims that Everton’s application for a work permit has been unsuccessful as the deal hangs in the balance.
This will be a blow to Marco Silva’s side, who seemingly see Sosa as a long-term replacement for the exit-linked Idrissa Gueye. He would certainly provide the same tenacity and ball-playing abilities in front of the defence.
But should the deal collapse, maybe Everton should remember that they have Beni Baningime on their books.
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