Liverpool secure work permit for Gonzalez

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has completed a hat-trick of South American signings this week with the club finally winning their battle to claim a work permit for Chilean winger Mark Gonzalez.

On Monday 20-year-old Argentinian defender Gabriel Paletta signed a four-year contract after moving from Banfield.

And while Liverpool were attending the work permit hearing to allow Gonzalez to start his Anfield career, they were also completing the paperwork to secure the services of Valencia's Brazilian full-back Fabio Aurelio on a free transfer.

But the key signing for Benitez has been the arrival of Gonzalez, who has been training at the club this week, after more than a year of wrangling.

The club were finally given the green light to allow the 23-year-old to start his Liverpool career, delayed after the player had an initial application last summer rejected and then an appeal later in the year turned down.

Gonzalez has spent the past six months on loan to Real Sociedad, where he helped them win a relegation battle in La Liga. Benitez, determined to bring him to Anfield, was forced into such a drastic action to keep Gonzalez fit and in match practice ahead of this summer's second application.

Benitez said: "This is very good news for us and I am absolutely delighted to welcome Mark to Liverpool as he is a player the supporters will like to see.

"Mark is an exciting left winger who can cross good balls and beat defenders and he is a very good signing for us. He has a very good mentality as when I was talking with him he told me, 'I want to play for Liverpool'."

Benitez tried to sign Gonzalez last summer and a fee of around £4million was agreed with Albacete.

But the player was injured at the time with a serious knee problem, and the deal Liverpool proposed was only a loan move because of that injury uncertainty.

Because of Chile's low Fifa ranking and the clear fact that the player could not go straight into the first team, Liverpool's original work permit application was rejected.

Gonzalez's arrival will give Benitez the pace on the left he has needed, and it could well cast a doubt over Harry Kewell's future at the club.

The Australian is currently recovering from the foot injury that ended his World Cup campaign, but he will find Gonzalez a serious threat to his first team place considering how much faith Benitez has put in the player.

It will also allow Benitez to concentrate on the acquisition of another new striker - Feyenoord's Dirk Kuyt is still high on the Liverpool manager's hit list - and a right winger, with Jermaine Pennant a target.