LIVERPOOL today faced defeat in their efforts to secure a work permit for winger Mark Gonzalez and have agreed to loan him to Real Sociedad.
Gonzalez is set to return to La Liga until the end of the season, which would end hopes of an imminent start to his Anfield career.
The Reds are waiting for a decision from the Department of Employment and Education, having made a fresh attempt for Gonzalez to play for Liverpool this month.
Gonzalez's application was rejected last summer on the grounds Chile aren't ranked in the world's top 70.
Since then, the South Americans have moved up the rankings, but the new bid was made on the basis of the 21-year-old Chilean international being a professional of 'outstanding young talent'.
In the absence of any response before the end of this month, Rafa Benitez will act now to ensure the midfielder isn't left in limbo.
A six-month loan has been agreed with Sociedad which is now awaiting the green light.
Liverpool hope Gonzalez will have secured European citizen-ship by May which will remove the necessity of a work permit when he officially joins his new club.
Gonzalez spent most of last week on Merseyside undergoing medical and fitness tests at Melwood, and there is huge disappointment he's facing a lengthy delay.
Benitez believes the Chilean is good enough to have an instant impact on the Premiership and would have thrust him into the senior squad within a few weeks.
He is astonished by the ignorance shown by the panel of 'experts' who decided Gonzalez isn't worthy of a work permit.
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