Yann Karamoh is stuck at Parma after his deadline day move to Championship strugglers Sheffield United collapsed due to work permit problems, as reported by Tuttomercatoweb.
Even the scowling Slavisa Jokanovic could probably allow himself a smile as the clock struck 11pm on Tuesday night.
In Robin Olsen, Sheffield United appear to have solved their goalkeeping problems, bringing in the Sweden international on loan from Serie A giants Roma.
Wes Foderingham and Michael Verrips have struggled big-time in Aaron Ramsdale’s absence and Olsen, who impressed during a spell at Everton last term before pulling off arguably the save of the tournament at Euro 2020, looks like an immediate upgrade.
Morgan Gibbs-White, meanwhile, should add a dash of magic to a rather workmanlike midfield while, in Conor Hourihane, the Blades have also brought in a bonafide set-piece specialist who made Championship football look like child’s play during spells at Aston Villa and Swansea City.
Will Sheffield United regret this transfer failure?
But not everything went to plan on deadline day.
Sheffield United had held talks to sign Karamoh, the £6 million winger, from Parma.
But according to Tuttomercatoweb, the former Inter Milan and Bordeaux forward had little choice but to stay at the Estadio Ennio Tardini after failing to obtain the requisite work permit.
That might have something to do with the fact that Karamoh, born in the Ivory Coast and boasting four caps for France’s U21s, has yet to make his senior international debut.
In the post-Brexit era, bringing in players from abroad is more difficult now than ever before.
So the jet-heeled wideman finds himself in a rather awkward position. Recently-relegated Parma were so convinced that he would depart that they handed Karamoh’s number ten shirt to new signing Franco Vazquez.
According to Yorkshire Live, Sheffield United also ran out of time to complete a deal for Barcelona youngster Alex Collado while goalkeeper Alex Smithies remains at Cardiff City after talks with the Blades.
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