Villarreal have been given permission to sign a new left midfielder despite the close of the transfer window last month.
After talks in Madrid, the Liga Futbol Profesional Espanol (LFP) have acceded to the Yellow Submarine's wishes and have given coach Manuel Pellegrini 18 days in which to find a new player.
The special allowance has been made because of a serious injury to new signing Robert Pires, who has joined defender Gonzalo Rodriguez on the sidelines because of a serious knee injury.
Both the 32-year-old Frenchman and his new team-mate have been ruled out of action for the majority of the new season and club president Fernando Roig has therefore welcomed the helpful measures introduced.
"Now we need a left midfielder but we know that the market is very complicated at the moment," he commented.
With most players now settled into their contracts until the transfer window reopens in January, Villarreal face a tough task to find a replacement, although there are strong rumours linking them to a European buy.
