The diminutive forward could be joining a Premier League giant very soon…
Brazilian international striker Alex Pato’s club Corinthians have admitted they are open to offers for the striker, alerting Tottenham and Arsenal, reports the Daily Star.
The London rivals have been linked heavily with the talented forward, and Spurs even had a bid rejected for him in final day of the summer transfer window.
Corinthians director of football Roberto de Andrade admitted that his club could sell the forward, but promised that as of yet, no clubs have made bids, and the player has not expressed a desire to leave.
“He is a kid – still very young – we don’t regret it. He will make the fans very happy,” Andrade said.
“We can negotiate about him, like any player. But in order to have a negotiation, there must be clubs interested in signing him and Pato so far has not asked to leave.”
The 24-year-old Brazilian international was hyped as a future world great when he was a teenager, but never managed to develop into the player he once promised to be, and was shipped out of AC Milan in January back to Corinthians in his homeland.
Pato has done reasonably well since his return to South America, scoring 15 goals in 45 appearances, playing in a more withdrawn wing-forward role.
Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas obviously wanted to secure a deal for Pato and hone his undeniable talent in the summer, and will try to do so again at the next available opportunity. Pato would have likely come in as second-fiddle to £26m Roberto Soldado, although whether the player himself would want a high-profile return to Europe just yet is debatable.
Arsenal are similarly desperate for a backup striker, with Danish forward Nicklas Bendtner currently the only option from the bench for Olivier Giroud. Pato can play from the wing too, so would provide a great option for the Gunners.
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