Bryan Oviedo reveals how close he was to signing for West Brom

The Sunderland left-back was rushed to the club’s training ground last Thursday evening as the Baggies attempted to complete a fourth piece of business.

But with so much paperwork to hurry through for Jacob Murphy, Jefferson Montero and Stefan Johansen, Oviedo’s deal could not be completed.

“In the end a document did not arrive on time,” Oviedo told media in his native Costa Rica. “I passed the medical tests and everything was fine.

“I do not know what happened. One of the two clubs did not send the document.

“I was notified at 6pm, I travelled about three hours from my house, I did the medical tests and I signed, but in the end it was 11:05pm and I saw that something was strange.

“I asked my representative and he told me that they supposedly did not send the documents before 11pm.”

With two left-backs already at the club, Oviedo was not a priority on deadline day compared to the three who were signed.

Newcastle’s decision to try and get a deal for Salomon Rondon included in the loan for Murphy pushed things back, as did obtaining international clearance for Ecuadorian winger Montero.

In the Premier League, as long as the deal sheet is in at 11pm, clubs have two further hours to complete the paperwork.

But the EFL expect all paperwork to be done by the 11pm deadline, and the Baggies were unable to complete the deal for Oviedo.

“We received an inquiry,” confirmed Sunderland owner Stewart Donald to the Roker Rapport podcast.

“I didn’t think it was quite enough if I am honest but we checked with the footballing people and they said they were happy with it.

“We let Bryan talk to West Brom and West Brom said they would like to do it. We said OK.

"That was with plenty of time to get the deal done and then on lunch time on transfer deadline day our focus is completely and utterly on the ins.

“It was a bit of good news on the outs because it would help with the cashflow.

“We left it to Bryan and West Brom and we were sat there waiting for the paperwork and the paperwork never arrived.

“So why that didn’t happen is down to West Brom and Bryan, not Sunderland. We agreed for him to go. They didn’t complete the deal.”

Oviedo, who worked alongside Albion assistant head coach Graeme Jones at Everton, is disappointed the deal fell through.

“I live very well in Sunderland, just like my family, and the club is fine,” he said. “But there is a bit of disappointment because it was already confirmed.

“But they are things that are not in one’s hands. A lot of players have had this happen. It is not in one’s hands. There is nothing left but to continue working.”