26 August 2007
Lagos — Everton's bid to sign Middlesbrough's Nigerian striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni for £11.25m has encountered a hitch after the 24-year-old was refused a work permit.
The Super Eagles forward who along with with Austin Jay Jay Okocha were selective of the games to play for Nigeria in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers, failed to meet British Home Office requirement to be issued with work permit.
Aiyegbeni did not meet up the required playing time of 75% of his Nigeria's games in the last two years.
However, Everton officials who are desperate to have the goal poacher join his compatriot Joseph Yobo in the team have appealed against the home office decision and will hear the result on Wednesday.
The Toffees agreed the fee with Boro to sign Aiyegbeni last week.
The Nigerian striker is second only to Thierry Henry in the Premier League goals over the last four years.
Portsmouth were also said to be interested in re-signing Yakubu, who they bought from Maccabi Haifa in 2003, before two years later selling him to Boro, where he clocked up 29 goals in 65 Premier League games.
A Boro spokesman said: "We can confirm we've agreed a fee but will only confirm it once the deal is complete."
Aiyegbeni featured in Boro's opening two Premier League games of the season but the missed the next two games against Fulham and Newcastle.
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