Arsenal gunning for AC Milan striker Pato

Alexandre Pato is no longer a regular starter at AC Milan. (FILE)

Published Tuesday, December 06, 2011

By Staff

Arsene Wenger is planning a surprise raid on £25 million-rated Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato who has lost his regular first team slot at AC Milan.

Arsenal are said to be keen on the exciting 22-year-old hitman to help skipper Robin van Persie share the goal-scoring responsiblity.

Van Persie has scored 18 goals this season, which is almost 50 per cent of the club’s total tally.

As well it would help the North London club persuade the Dutch international of the club’s ambition and hopefully convince the 28 year-old goal machine to put pen to paper on a new deal.

The former Feyenoord man has less than 18 months to run on his current deal and Wenger may be worried that prospective suitors are set to approach the striker in the summer.

Though Wenger is known for being frugal when it comes to using his transfer budget funds a move for Pato appears to excite the Frenchman as the Brazilian has a great deal of experience under his belt.

Pato has notched up over 130 appearances for the Rossoneri and is a regular in Mano Menezes’s national team set-up.

Pato may well consider a move to the Emirates Stadium after losing his regular first team slot at the San Siro and speculation surrounding his possibly inclusion in a deal to bring Carlos Tevez to the Serie A title holders.

The former Internacional man could well be the ideal player to line up alongside Van

Manchester City gave Tevez’s representatives permission to talk to Milan two weeks ago, but are still waiting for a firm offer .

“We haven’t spoken directly to City yet,” said Galliani. “So we don’t know what City want. I prefer not to speak too much about Tevez, otherwise his price will go up – and this is not good.”

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