LUTON have brought a top agency into the negotiations in a bid to break the deadlock over Oscar Zambrano.
Hatters chiefs have been after the Ecuadorian defensive midfielder for weeks but cannot agree a fee because of add-ons and extras.
The star is due 15 per cent of the potential £5.5million fee but his club LDU Quito would like him to waive that.
The Ecuador Under-20 ace, 19, is willing to move — but his club LDU Quito are asking for more than Luton want to pay.
Therefore the Kenilworth Road side have turned to an agency to broker terms.
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Zambrano is a defensive midfielder in the mould of Moises Caicedo, who was picked up in Ecuador by Brighton and sold to Chelsea for a Premier League record £115m.
In fact, Zambrano came through the same football academy as Caicedo.
Now he is keen to come to Europe having previously had a trial at Ajax a couple of years ago.
Hatters chief scout Phil Chapple flew to South AMerica to first speak to the teen ace back in October.
Now they hope to recruit Zambrano for the survival battle and hope the new agency can sort a fee and agree personal terms as soon as possible.
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Yesterday’s 2-3 home defeat to Chelsea left Luton sitting 19th in the table.
They have 15 points from 19 matches this term and are a point from safety, with 18th-place Everton also having a game in hand.
They are in FA Cup action next when they host Bolton Wanderers at the weekend and return to top-flight duty with a trip to relegation rivals Burnley on January 15.
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