Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson hopes the club complete the signing of Andrej Kramaric before Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Stoke City.
The Croatia international, 23, joined the Foxes from HNK Rijeka on a three-and-a-half year deal last week, but has yet to be granted a work permit.
“We’re still waiting for the official confirmation on Kramaric and hopefully that will come before Saturday,” Pearson said.
“As to whether he plays, that depends on whether we get the official clearance, but he is in contention.
“I’m no legal beagle, I don’t know the ins and outs, but we have the backing of the federation [Football Association] and hopefully we will get the official work permit.”
Leicester received the Football Association’s support on Monday, and the work permit issue is expected to be resolved sooner rather than later.
“Now it is about overcoming the final hurdle,” added Pearson.
“Hopefully, when available, he will have a big impact for us.
“He is a player we have been looking at for more than two years, it is not as if it is something that has just come out of the blue.”
According to reports, the Foxes have also reportedly agreed a £1 million fee to sign Scotland international midfielder Shaun Maloney from Wigan Athletic.
However, Pearson refused to address such reports.
“I’m not in a position to comment further,” said the Leicester boss.
“If things don’t happen, then the player has to perform for his current club, so it’s unfair to talk openly about that.”
Maloney has tallied two goals and two assists in 20 appearances in the Championship this season.
Stoke looking to loan out Huth
Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has revealed he is looking to send Robert Huth out on loan, but insisted that the defender still has a future at the Britannia Stadium.
Huth, 30, will likely attract interest from several clubs in the Championship in the coming days.
The former Germany international, formerly of Chelsea and Middlesbrough, is under contract at Stoke until the summer of 2016.
“I’ve had discussions with Robert and I think it is fair to say he needs games,” said Hughes.
“We are looking to try to get him that, if we can. It needs to be at the right club, and needs to be the right opportunity for Robert himself.
“We want to get games into him so he is fit and ready for us.
“Under-21 games probably are not the right environment for him as a senior player, so he needs to get out and play games of meaning.
“If we can find the right team for him, hopefully he’ll get five or six games, and then he can come back to us and be ready to go again.”
Huth has made just one substitute appearance in the Premier League for the Potters in 2014/15.
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