Chelsea double striker swoop: Ex-Man Utd and Arsenal man eyed as Pato jets in for medical

CHELSEA are eyeing a shock move for Robin van Persie - as Alexandre Pato arrives in the UK for his medical.

 

Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink could sign both Alexandre Pato and Robin van Persie

 

Pato boarded a midnight flight to London and is expected to complete a six-month loan move to Stamford Bridge today. 

If the Brazilian impresses during his loan stint from Corinthians then Chelsea have the option to make his deal permanent for a fee believed to be in the region of £12million and will offer him a three-year contract. 

However, his imminent arrival could still have a bearing on Van Persie’s return to the Premier League.

 

The 32-year-old Fenerbahce striker is believed to be unhappy with life in Turkey since joining from Manchester United last summer. 

And News News Blog Sport understands Chelsea are willing to offer him a way out of Fenerbahce.

The defending champions have had a disastrous season by their standards and have struggled to replicate their prolific goalscoring rate of last season. 

 

Diego Costa is the Blues’ only goalscoring source up front, with Loic Remy and Radamel Falcao failing to secure regular starts and misfiring when given the opportunity. 

Remy is being eyed by a host of clubs and Falcao remains out injured – so a move for Van Persie is still a possibility.

The Dutch international striker has 11 years of Premier League experience and is a proven goalscorer in the league, having netted 144 times during his time at Arsenal and Manchester United. 

Van Persie joined Arsenal from Feyenoord in 2004 for £2.75m and made 194 appearances for the Gunners before going onto join United in 2012 in a £22.5m.

 

He made an instant impact at Old Trafford by scoring 30 goals in all competitions in his first season and helping guide United to their 20th English title. 

But persistent injuries and the appointment of Louis van Gaal resulted in Van Persie being sold to Fenerbahce. 

Pato, who is injury prone himself and has failed to replicate the form of his AC Milan days, could be seen as a gamble for the Blues. 

So if Remy leaves and Falcao is ditched then Hiddink could move for Van Persie in a bid to bolster his attacking ranks and secure a respectable finish in the league.