Is Alexandre Pato really what Chelsea needs in January?

Former-Brazilian wonderkid Alexandre Pato is being linked with a January move to Chelsea by the Brazilian media

Reports emanating from the Brazilian press are linking former-AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato with a move to ailing Premier League champions Chelsea.

Some reports even suggest that an agreement has been reached between the Blues and his current employers Corinthians, who have revealed via the media that they want the forward to leave in January, not exactly a great omen.

Has failed to live-up to potential

Alex Pato had the world at his feet when he broke into the AC Milan first team at the age of 18.

He was regarded as Brazil’s next big superstar and compared with the Brazilian greats of the past, as happens with every promising youngster from Brazil.

He looked the part in his first few seasons with the Rossoneri and seemed set for a bright future at the San Siro. However, fitness problems and allegedly a habit for the party lifestyle hamstrung his career in Milan.

Soon the Milan hierarchy grew tired of his fitness problems and in 2013 he surprisingly moved back to his native Brazil with Corinthians in the January transfer window.

Pato’s representatives are believed to have been touting the striker’s name to Premier League clubs for the last few transfer windows, but have obviously had little success in attracting suitors. If the stories coming out Brazil are true then it seems they may have finally found a Premier League club willing to sign the striker.

Chelsea now needs to steady the ship

I have to admit I was a big admirer of Pato at AC Milan, but cannot say I have seen much of his career back in his homeland. He does have talent and if he can get back to the form he displayed in his early years at Chelsea then he could prove to be a good signing.

No doubt he has not lost his technical ability and at 25 still has time to develop into a very good player and fulfil some of that supposed potential.

However, Chelsea are at a crossroads at the moment. The Blues are struggling near the foot of the Premier League table and need solid characters to dig them out of their current hole.

Pato is not exactly known to be that strong of character. Teams with the strongest characters are usually the ones that get out of trouble. Pato has a reputation for the inconsistent, both on and off the pitch.

He would no doubt be more suited to Chelsea if they were near the top of the Premier League table and just needed an extra attacking option. I am not sure he will be the best option with the team struggling for wins and points.

The Brazilian seemed to struggle in his tough times at Milan, so who says he would fare any better in a Chelsea team that need real fighters?

The Blues may need quality additions to their squad and maybe a squad overhaul will take place in the summer. It looks unlikely that the Blues will be that active in the winter transfer window.

Needs to resurrect his career

Whether there is anything in the rumours from Brazil remains to be seen. The Brazilian striker has talked about wanting to return to European football one day and that he did not believe his time had come and gone in Europe.

Pato has not just lost the ability he had during that fleetingly successful spell at the San Siro. Whether he can still become a top-class star may well depend on his attitude and determination to succeed in his career.

A move to the English top-flight could be what he needs to resurrect his club and international career, as he has not played for the Selecao since 2013. A successful move to Chelsea would certainly help his international claims and raise his profile again.

As much as I rated Pato as a player in his AC Milan days, I do not believe that the Brazilian striker is the answer to Chelsea’s current plight. However, anything can happen in football and who knows Pato and the Blues could be a dream combination.

Would Alexandre Pato be a good signing for Chelsea?