Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has confirmed that a deal has been agreed to bring Chile winger Mark Gonzalez to Anfield.

Liverpool were refused a work permit when they tried to sign Gonzalez on loan from Albacete in August.

But, a permanent deal has now been agreed, pending a work permit or if Gonzalez is granted a Spanish passport.

“We are working at getting him here as quick as possible,” Benitez told reporters on Friday.

“But if we cannot use him now, we will wait until next season when he will then have a Spanish passport.

“He is a young player, a left winger who can get to the by-line and produce the crosses for (Fernando) Morientes and (Peter) Crouch. He has a lot of pace with great skills, but the most important thing is that he is a hungry player.”

The 21-year-old has been out with a cruciate ligament injury since last May, but Benitez is confident he will be fit to resume playing in the next month.