MARK GONZALEZ is almost certain to be loaned out to a Spanish club until the end of the season, when Liverpool will again apply for a work permit for the youngster.
The deal, believed to be around £4million, for the 21-year-old to join Liverpool from Albacete, is virtually completed with terms agreed with the player and his Spanish Second Division club.
Liverpool have been technically unable to complete the deal because the contract cannot be put into place without a work permit - but they are in a position to "con-trol" the immediate future of the player.
They were refused a work permit at the beginning of the season, much to manager Rafael Benitez's annoyance, and cannot apply for another one until the summer - and that has frustrated their attempts to bring the Chile international to Anfield.
And that is despite constant claims from Gonzalez's advisors and the player that he will be joining Liverpool this month.
But Anfield sources now confirm that the chances of the club being able to speed up the issue of a permit are as unlikely as Gonzalez acquiring a Spanish passport.
Now Benitez is likely to agree to the player - who has just recovered from a lengthy knee injury - being loaned out to a Spanish club for the rest of the season before joining Liverpool in the summer, when he will almost certainly acquire a Spanish passport anyway and be able to move to Anfield without the need of a work permit.
And it is likely that Espanyol will be the club he will join for the rest of the campaign on loan, although that has not been confirmed as yet.
Other options are being considered but Espanyol want Gonzalez to fill the gap in their squad left by winger Albert Riera, who has just completed a loan move to Manchester City.
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