Exclusive: Chelsea eye shock move for Robin van Persie if Alexandre Pato bid fails

CHELSEA have made a surprise move to bring Robin van Persie back to the Premier League.

 

Chelsea have made a shock move for Robin van Persie

 

Van Persie, 32, is having a miserable time in Turkey at Fenerbahce, who he joined from Manchester United at the start of the season.

Any move hinges on whether Chelsea can complete a loan move for Corinthians' Brazil striker Alexandre Pato on Wednesday.

Chelsea, with Radamel Falcao still injured, want a striker as back up to first choice front man Diego Costa. With a deal for Shakhtar Donetsk's Alex Teixeira now looking unlikely during this window and with Liverpool also strongly in for him, doubts about Pato's fitness and form last week led to Chelsea moving for Van Persie on a short-term deal.

 

But Pato, 26, flew into London on Tuesday night and is due to have a medical on Wednesday afternoon. He will sign a six-month deal, with Chelsea paying his £30,000-a-week wages. They have an option to sign the Brazilian permanently at the end of the agreement for a £12million fee on a three-year deal.

A work permit for the player nicknamed "The Duck" in Brazil is expected to be granted on appeal under the new points system, because of the size of the club he is signing for and the wages he will be paid.

Pato scored 26 goals in 56 games for Sao Paulo last season after being loaned out by Corinthians, where he had fallen out of favour, but he has not played since the Brazilian season ended November.

 

His arrival means that it is likely that Loic Remy moves out, with Leicester, Newcastle and Crystal Palace all keen on the France striker.

And last night Palace signed Emmanuel Adebayor, a free agent after leaving Tottenham in September, on a deal worth about £75,000 a week.

Chelsea have been fined £65,000 and West Brom £35,000 after the fracas between the two sides in the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge this month. Albion twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw and Chelsea striker Diego Costa was involved in a confrontation with Claudio Yacob.