It is has widely reported in the media that Everton have hijacked our loan deal for Lacina Traore. This now appears to be have been confirmed by Sam Allardyce after the match.
West Ham successfully applied for a work permit through the FA appointed appeal panel last week paying the required £1,000 + VAT fee as well as going to the expense of preparing the appeal with Sam Allardyce and secretary Andrew Pincher giving up their time to give evidence for the work permit. It is my interpretation of the UK Border Agency rules that West Ham would be named as the sponsor and the work permit issued is non transferable.
A certificate of Sponsorship is assigned to a player by the applicant Club which must be submitted to the FA. The work permit situation is further complicated that it went through on appeal. The regulations which can be found HERE seem to suggest “If a player is moving to another club on loan then the new club must make a fresh application before the player can play for them. If the player does not meet the criteria and the club have requested a panel, the panel will be arranged.”
That would mean the FA appointed panel would need to sit again to make a fresh recommendation to the UK Border Agency to issue a new work permit for Everton. The panel regulations forbid another appeal hearing for the same player within a four month period when the appeal has unsuccessful although it is less clear within the rules if the appeal was successful. This is this loophole Everton could use to get their own work permit building on West Ham’s effort to get the first one.
I understand West Ham agreed a loan fee with Monaco believed to be around £500,000 but had not agreed personal terms and it was still subject to a medical.
I also understand West Ham ‘s medical assessed Traore’s match fitness and possible hamstring injury which led them to believe he would not be fully match fit for up to six weeks.At that stage I am told West Ham tried to renegotiate the loan deal terms.
In the mean time the player had his head turned and decided he did want want to come to West Ham and preferred Everton.
It may be no coincidence that West Ham’s new Head of Sports Medicine and former Everton physio Dominic Rogan may have advised West Ham on Traore’s fitness.Dominic Rogan was previously with Russian Premier League club Anzhi Makhachkala where Lacina Traore has just transferred from. Rogan would have been in a very good position to advise on Traore. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise as we need a striker now not in six weeks time.
In his post match press conference Sam Allardyce admitted that it is “unlikely by, the sound of it” that West Ham will be signing Lacina Traore, He hinted that the move for 23-year-old Traore collapsed unexpectedly on Friday. He said “We’re finding it extremely difficult (to bring players in) We had a terrible day yesterday (Friday) when I thought a player was signing for us and then I found out he wasn’t” You can see his post match interview below.