Liverpool could fall foul of the UK immigration rules yet again, in a situation reminiscent of the Mark Gonzalez affair.
Firstly new boy Lucas Leiva, the £4.5 million Brazilian signing, is due to join up with the Liverpool squad next week, but the reds are still awaiting passport clearance for the 20 year old. The reds have been working on securing an Italian passport for the player for a number of weeks, but Rafa remains hopeful.
“We expect Lucas to be able to join us in Switzerland.”
Meanwhile the signing of Bulgarian Under-21 goalkeeper Nikolay Mikhailov could also run in to a spot of bother. Mikhailov has been training with the first team squad in the last few days but work-permit issues may mean the reds would have to send him back to Bulgaria.
Liverpool are believed to be unwilling to go through another lengthy work-permit application as they did with Mark Gonzalez – who had a move to Liverpool delayed by a year.