Everton have been hit with a transfer blow.

The Liverpool Echo are reporting that Everton's plans to bring in Santiago Sosa from River Plate may have hit the end of the road, after the Argentinean was denied a work permit.

The Blues have been monitoring the 20-year-old and there were even reports from South America suggesting a £13million deal had been agreed with River Plate to sign the talented midfielder, yet to date, work permit issues have presented a significant problem.

Argentinean media outlet La Pagina Millonaria is suggesting that an initial application for a UK work permit has been denied for the Argentine under-20 international.