Arsenal move for Gabriel Paulista hinges on work permit snag
LONDON. KAZINFORM - Arsenal's pursuit of the Villarreal centre-half Gabriel Paulista may well end up hinging on their ability to obtain a work permit for the Brazilian as the clubs continue negotiations aimed at striking a deal over a fee for the player.
The parties remain some way apart at present with Villarreal, sixth in La Liga and reluctant sellers, ostensibly holding out for the €20m release clause written into the 24-year-old's contract. Arsenal would prefer to strike a deal for an initial £6m with add-ons to take the fee potentially beyond £10m, aware as they are that Gabriel is keen to join them, Kazinform quotes the Guardian. However, even if compromise is struck, securing a work permit could prove even more awkward. The player has yet to represent Brazil, with players without an EU passport qualifying only if they represent an international team ranked within Fifa's top 70 and have played 75% of that side's matches in the past two years. There is scope for the rules to be relaxed - an appeals process is run by the Football Association on behalf of the Home Office - though Arsenal would have to prove that Gabriel is an "exceptional talent" despite the fact that, ideally, they would only be paying an initial £6m for his services. The London club had been forced in the past to loan Joel Campbell, of Costa Rica, and Mexico's Carlos Vela to clubs in Europe before securing the green light to bring the players to the Premier League.