Pato speculation and Charlton youngster linked
Today's rumours suggest Liverpool won't be signing Alexandre Pato in January, or probably anytime at all.
The Brazilian, nicknamed Pato Branco has constantly been linked with a move to the Reds or Spurs in recent weeks.
That's probably because the player's agents are desperate to get him out of his homeland and back to Europe, where he spent five seasons with Milan earlier in his career.
It didn't quite work out for Pato in the San Siro, with injuries and lack of form a problem for the player, who moved to Milan at just 18.
He headed back home in 2013, with Corinthians and then Sao Paulo, where he impressed, scoring 38 goals in 95 games. This all led to talk of a move to Liverpool, despite the club dismissing any interest in the forward.
It would hardly matter, apparently, because he couldn't come to England even if they did want him.Work permits problems, apparently, with Pato unlikely to gain one because he hasn't turned out for Brazil in over two years.
He's also owned by a third party, forbidden in the Premier League.
Added to all this, a 'source close to the player' told the website HITC that the players is on big money.
"He is on so much money that he would have to take a drop in wages to come to England. He doesn’t like the physical side of the game and to be honest we can’t understand where these stories are coming from.
"Clearly it seems Corinthians would like to get wages off their bill, so that could be it.”
Elsewhere this morning it is claimed the Reds are one of many Premier League clubs tracking in-demand 18 year-old Ademola Lookman.
The youngster scored his first professional goal in the Addicks' 3-2 defeat to Brighton this weekend, and the Reds are said to be keen along with Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham.
He was playing parks football for south London-based side Waterloo FC before being picked up by Charlton in 2014 and progressing rapidly through their Academy setup to the first team.
The youngster made his debut just last month but has impressed in the Addicks' last three fixtures.
Lookman scored 16 times for Charlton's U18s and U21s this season before earning his first-team breakthrough.
Source: Liverpool Echo
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