West Ham are set to complete the signing of Deportivo Maldonado striker Jonathan Calleri this summer now the player has received an EU passport.
The talented striker had agreed to make the move to the Hammers on a season-long loan but there were fears over whether he would receive a work permit.
A descendant of an Italian family, Calleri is eligible to receive an EU passport which would allow him to travel and work in the EU without the need for a work permit.
He had struggled for some time to get one, which is the main reason his January move to Inter Milan fell through and he signed for the Uruguayan side Deportivo Maldonado.
However, Sambafoot now understand that Calleri, while on loan with Sao Paulo, has been granted an EU passport which has opened up a move to Europe and to West Ham.
The 22-year-old was signed by the wealthy Uruguayan second-tier side in a €11m deal in January from Boca Juniors where he had been playing with former Hammer Carlos Tevez, before being immediately sent out on loan to Brazilian giants Sao Paolo where he’s netted 16 goals.
Calleri confirmed to reporters after Sao Paolo’s 4-1 aggregate defeat to Atletico Nacional in the Copa Libertadores that he had played his last game for the club and was disappointed it ended the way it did.
West Ham moved quickly to agree a deal with the Uruguayan club, who have made a habit of signing talented South American players and selling them on for a profit and hope to do so with Calleri in the years to come.
The Argentine striker will sign a contract with West Ham in the coming days, says UOL. Calleri is believed to have spoken with former team-mate Carlos Tevez over a move to West Ham and now is supportive of the move.
Calleri will travel to the Olympics as part of the Argentina squad and will play alongside Hammer Manuel Lanzini who he could possibly be teaming up with in East London next season.
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