According to reports from talkSPORT this afternoon, Manchester United and West Ham strike target Alexandre Pato has admitted his interest in moving to the Premier League.
The 5 foot 11 front-man first broke onto the scene in 2007 as AC Milan’s free-scoring teenager, bagging 51 goals in 117 Serie A appearances for the Italian giants, but left the San Siro in 2012 following a spate of recurring injury problems.
The 26 year-old has resurrected his career somewhat during an 18 month spell with Sao Paulo, on loan from fellow Brazilian outfit Corinthians, producing 37 goals in 94 outings across all competitions.
The Brazil international was surprisingly linked with Chelsea and Manchester United during the latter stages of the summer transfer window and talkSPORT suggest he’s still very much on the Old Trafford radar. Premier League rivals West Ham have also expressed an interest in recent weeks, whilst Arsenal and Spurs are considered to be long-term admirers.
And according to quotes from talkSPORT, Pato has now confirmed he would be interested in a move to the Premier League. He told Radio Globo; “Next year I won’t be playing at Sao Paulo, everybody knows that. I hope England or Spain. I do not know if I can stay with Corinthians. I just try to do as well as possible.”
Corinthians deputy director of football Eduardo Ferreira has already revealed the club’s valuation of the South American. He declared to Globo Esporte in October; “At the moment there are only enquiries. But if a club comes in with an offer of €25m (18.5m), we will let him go, otherwise he will return in January.”