Chelsea target Alexandre Pato is a support striker and not what they need, says South American football expert
Ahead of his expected move to Chelsea, Tim Vickery says Alexandre Pato is not the type of striker they need.
The former AC Milan forward is reportedly close to sealing a move to Stamford Bridge, returning to Europe after three years back in his home country.
The 26-year-old moved to Corinthians in 2013 but showed his best form on loan at Sao Paulo.
South American football expert Vickery told Hawksbee and Jacobs of the deal: “It looks as if there’s something happening.
“Corinthians are absolutely desperate to sell him and get him off the wage bill. They’ve had two agents going around England, knocking on doors saying ‘Who will buy? Who will buy?’
“It does seem there might now be something going on, there are numerous sources saying the deal is being worked out.
“I’d be interested to see the price, because as I’ve been telling you in recent weeks, there’s so much scope here for the buying club to play poker and drive that price so far down.
“He is a free agent in a year and Corinthians are so desperate to get rid of him.
“The asking price started at 25million euros, then 20, then 15 and there’s still scope to bring that so low down. But the buying club - if it’s Chelsea or anyone else - can afford to take the gamble.”
Pato made waves after breaking through at the San Siro in 2007, making his Brazil debut a year later and he was linked with big-money moves across Europe. Injuries and off-field issues slowed his progress before he returned to Brazil.
Vickery said: “There’s a certain kind of ‘sweat and sacrifice’ ethic around Corinthians.
“They paid a fortune to bring him back from Europe and with them it didn’t come off at all.
“He’s a bit too aristocratic for Corinthians I think. He fell out with the fans and it’s one of those which you just couldn’t see working.
"So they loaned him to local rivals Sao Paulo while they were still paying his wages. And then he started playing really well and scoring loads of goals.
"They were paying for him to score for their rivals! Now imagine that, it’s managerial incompetence on a grand scale.
“All they want to do now is just get rid of him and get a return because they are in grave financial problems.”
But Vickery does not think he fits the bill for the Blues, who currently have attackers Diego Costa, Radamel Falcao and Loic Remy on their books.
He added: “What he isn’t is an out and out centre forward, he’s not a Didier Drogba, Diego Costa, a number nine.
“He is a support striker. When he was doing well for Sao Paulo he was playing in a front three on the left and cutting in onto his stronger right foot.
“In that position [his old Sao Paulo coach] Juan Carlos Osorio said he is one of the five best players in the world.
“But when I look at the Chelsea team I am not sure it is what they need to reinforce. I would have thought they need more in the classic number nine/centre forward area.”