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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Pirie

Luis Palma to Rangers transfer path clears as Premier League dream hits roadblock amid 'complex' issue

Luis Palma's agent has left the door open for a move to Rangers - as he conceded a move to the Premier League may be too "complex" for the Aris star this summer.

The 23-year-old has reportedly been scouted by the Ibrox side all season as Michael Beale steps up his striker search with Alfredo Morelos heading for the exit door, but the player's agent Paolo Hernandez has previously claimed as many as 10 teams are in the running for a deal. However, the numbers appear to be dwindling with the Honduras internatonal's team rejecting teams - including from England - over work permit restrictions.

After Brexit though new restrictions were imposed, with players required to have played international football and be playing in a certain standard of league to allow the player to be granted a work permit. However, the threshold to reach the Premier League is significantly higher than in the Scottish Premiership with two major hurdles facing the player as he looks to manoeuvre a move to England.

While the attacker has earned six caps for his country he has not been a regular for the national side since making his first international experience in 2021 - making just one start for Honduras in the last 12 months, with players having to play regularly for their national team to gain the green light from the FA if playing for a South American side. The Greek Super League is also considered a Band 4 league leaving Palma with less work permit points than if he was playing in the likes of the Scottish Premiership - which is considered Band 3.

Speaking to Diario Deportivo, Hernandez admitted Palma was keen on a move to England's top flight but could be blocked: "There are groups actively inquiring about his condition. I keep the offers for me, the club and the footballer.

"We have already rejected options from teams that have asked us or that have made approaches knowing that for us they are options that do not interest us. Playing in England is a bit more complicated.

“In England, you have to take into account that there is the point of the work permit. It is not like other leagues where it is so easy to play.

"There is a series of scores that depends on various factors - depending on the footballer’s salary, depending on the cost, depending on his time in the national team. Playing in England is a little more complex.”

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