Chelsea and Liverpool joined by Portuguese giants ‘with chance’ of signing Pato

The report states the Stamford Bridge club are eager to bolster their attacking options – especially in Europe – and take the goalscoring burden off main striker Diego Costa.

When asked which teams Pato is close to signing with, Veloz revealed: “Chelsea, Liverpool, Sporting and Benfica”.

After scoring 26 goals on loan at Sao Paulo past year, Pato is ready to test himself in England and strongly hinted at a move to the Premier League in an interview with The Mail on Sunday last month.

Chelsea had been hunting a striker in the January transfer window and finally might have gotten one.

Pato scored 51 goals during a five-year spell at AC Milan between 2007 and 2012 but has since seen his career stagnate in recent seasons, leading to his exit from the worldwide scene with Brazil.

Chelsea have held a long-term interest in Pato and they have chose to push through a deal to sign the skilful attacker on loan until the end of the season with a view to a permanent move.

Corinthians are desperate to cash in on Pato and had accepted to sell the player to Chinese second division side Tianjin Songjiang.