Source: Daily_Mail
Chelsea close on £43m Alexandre Pato after belt tightening at AC Milan pushes star towards exit
AC Milan forward Alexandre Pato is set to join Chelsea this summer in a massive £43million deal due to new financial restrictions imposed at the San Siro, according to reports in Italy.[LNB]The Rossoneri are to introduce a salary cap of £3.5m per year and the belt tightening at the club means the sake of Pato is likely should there be a big offer from West London, says Italian daily Corriere dello Sport. [LNB]Pato, 20, was the subject of strong interest from the Blues last summer but a £39m bid was turned down.[LNB] Hotshot: Alexandre Pato has 14 goals in 28 games for AC Milan this season [LNB]The Brazilian starlet has enjoyed a decent season, scoring 14 goals in 28 appearances, and has so far won eight caps for his country.[LNB]Should Pato depart for England, the paper also claims that Inter Milan bad boy Mario Balotelli will be his replacement. [LNB]Balotelli, linked with Arsenal and Manchester City, has fallen out with boss Jose Mourinho at Inter and is said to be a life-long supporter of city rivals AC.[LNB] Swelling the coffers: Kaka's sale to Real Madrid means AC Milan will not have to sell current stars such as Pato, claims club vice-president Adriano Galliani [LNB]But Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani on Thursday moved to deny Pato was heading towards the exit by claiming the club will not part with any leading players this summer.[LNB]The Rossoneri sold Kaka to Real Madrid last season but Galliani insists the key men in Leonardo's side will return for the 2010-11 campaign. [LNB]Galliani said: 'We will not sell any stars. Certainly not (Alexandre) Pato, nor Thiago Silva and certainly not Ronaldinho, (Klaas Jan) Huntelaar or (Marco) Borriello. [LNB]'The next year will be more difficult than 2009 which was saved by Mr. Ricardo Kaka. His sale generated an equity of 66million euros (£57.2m). [LNB] Chelsea dealt major blow in summer pursuit of AC Milan star striker PatoAguero hints at Chelsea move to learn from Drogba and LampardChelsea striker Didier Drogba feels the strain of playing through painCHELSEA FC
