Saints Dropped Goalkeeper Move Due To Work Permit Issues
Tuesday, 2nd Aug 2022 14:26

A month or so go we reported that the move for Fiorentina keeper Bartlomiej Dragowski had fallen through due to issues now with work permit's for players coming from the EU after Brexit, the players agent has now confirmed that to be the case.

At the end of last season it looked likely that Saints would be looking to sign long term goalkeeping target Bartlomiej Dragowski from Fiorentina, indeed in early June it was being reported as a done deal by media sources in Italy, however that suddenly hit the rocks and a new name emerged, that of Manchester City's Gavin Bazunu.

Although Southampton FC have said little either way it now appears that it was the changes now in place by Brexit that have scuppered this deal.

Before players from the EU did not need work permits to play in England, those from countries not in the EU however did and the regulations were strict, now those rules are in place for players from the EU as well as other counties.

This could have severe ramifications for English clubs who have long looked to find bargains on the continent and now will be unable to do so as youngsters will not fit the criteria for a work permit.

But it is not just youngsters who won't make the cut, as was the case with Bartlomiej Dragowski, although an International for Poland, he had been injured early last season and not been able to reclaim his place in the Fiorentina first team, that had ramifications for a potential move to England in that he did not now fit the requirements for a work permit, some of which are based on games played in the previous season.

Saints decided to drop their interest when they had considered all the issues, however another unamed English club did apply for a work permit and lodged an unsuccessful appeal as his agent has now confirmed.

“Southampton have been watching Dragowski for several years, but unfortunately the transfer fell through due to the lack of a work permit,” he told SportoweFakty in Poland, relayed by Fiorentina.it.

“Unfortunately Bart played very little last season and failed to reach 30% of the minutes to get extra points for a work permit.

“Another English club also lodged an appeal, but unfortunately it was rejected.

“A transfer to England this summer is out of the question. However, our goal has always been towards the Premier League.”

It will be interesting to see whether Dragowski would have been a good signing for Saints, but he has highlighted the problem for all English clubs now, the option of picking up players like Dragowski who has been out of favour with his club due to various reasons and getting them for a good price is gone.

Now players have to meet strict criteria and one of the main ones is to do with playing regularly for the team they are with, that rules out signing youngsters yet to break into the first team or playing in lower standard leagues, a source of players for Saints over the years.

Photo: Action Images

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