Agent says striker could still move to Liverpool
The agent of Alexandre Pato has played down reports of reaching a 'verbal agreement' with Chelsea for the transfer of the Corinthians striker, and says that despite the interest of four clubs being shown in his client an official bid is yet to be made, although he could still join Liverpool this month.
Reports out of Brazil on Wednesday claimed that a deal was in place for Pato to travel to England and seal a move to Stamford Bridge, but the player’s agent, Gilmar Veloz, has rubbished those claims and revealed that four clubs – including Liverpool – are still interested in signing the former AC Milan forward this month.
Corinthians are known to be open to Pato’s exit having sent him out on loan for the past two seasons to Brazilian rivals Sao Paulo, although the club will hold out for more than £10m before letting the 26-year-old leave in his quest to return to Europe.
Both Chelsea and Liverpool are in the market for a striker after struggling for goals this season, although while Pato would be a relatively cheap deal in the grand scheme of the current transfer market, his drop in form since bursting onto the scene with Milan more than seven years ago would prove to be a risk.
Speaking to Portuguese news outlet UOL Esporte, Veloz revealed that an official bid is yet to arrive at Corinthians for Pato, but said that the prospect of a January move remains a firm possibility.
"The guys are working on getting an offer, but nothing Corinthians are yet to receive one," Veloz said. "The January market is very limited."
Veloz was then asked to name who is showing interest in Pato, with the two Premier League sides joined by clubs in Portugal as he stated: "Chelsea, Liverpool, Sporting and Benfica. All four have a chance."
Pato has already rejected a €9m-a-year deal to join Chinese second-tier side Tianjin Quanjian, and he has made it clear that he wants to return to Europe three years after leaving AC Milan with England his preferred destination.
Having won Uefa’s Gold Boy award in 2009 after being voted the most promising youngster in Europe, Pato has suffered a rapid decline which saw him fall out-of-favour at Milan and move back to his homeland in 2013 to join Corinthians, only for the Brazilian club to send him on loan to Sao Paulo a year later where he scored 26 goals in 61 appearances over two years with the club.
Source: Independent
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