AC Milan star Alexandre Pato hints at future move to Chelsea

Alexandre Pato today declined to rule out a future move to England hinting that Chelsea, who are managed by his former coach Carlo Ancelotti, would be the most likely destination.

The 20–year-old AC Milan striker was pursued by the Blues last summer, and reportedly still tops Ancelotti and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich’s shopping list and could cost the Blues a record £50 million should they swoop for him this summer.

Pato, when asked if he could ever see himself playing in England one day, told Goal.com UK: “I follow English football a lot and Ancelotti, the coach who brought me to Milan is in England now at Chelsea. I love London.”

Pato regards the Chelsea boss as a father figure and when he was unsettled at Milan last summer, he insisted that he would decide his future after speaking with Ancelotti.

A bid for £38m was knocked back by Milan and a move was scuppered at the last minute by Silvio Berlusconi, who had pledged to the fans he would not lose his other Brazilian star after Kaka moved to Real Madrid.

Ancelotti is believed to remain keen on bringing his former wonderkid to Stamford Bridge and believes the pacey, young striker could form a formidable partnership with Didier Drogba.


Despite hinting at a future move to Chelsea, Pato insisted that currently he is focused on AC Milan – and he is confident the Italian giants can knock Manchester United out of Champions League next month.

“At this point I am focused on AC Milan. I am very happy after two years there and have 100 per cent adapted to life in Italy.

“We have a big game coming up against Manchester United. It will be a very hard game, I respect Manchester United as a team but I am sure we will be able to beat them.”

He gave special praise to two of AC Milan’s veteran superstars, Ronaldinho and David Beckham.

“It’s been a dream for me to play with players who when I was a kid, I looked up to them," he said."

By playing with Beckham I can use the best part of his game. His long passing is the best and he will always find me."

Pato is one of a host of strikers including Luis Fabiano and Robinho competing for a place in Dunga’s Brazil team ahead of the 2010 World Cup.

He said: “I hope I will play. I respect the coach and his decision’s but I am sure that if I go to the World Cup, I will contribute.”

When asked if he thought resurgent Milan team-mate Ronaldinho deserved to be recalled to the national team, Pato responded: “Ronaldinho is a great player but it is not for me to make a decision.”

Pato was speaking at a Nike event in London. The sportswear giant revealed a series of new national team kits ahead of the 2010 World Cup.

Chelsea director Peter Kenyon in Portugal to check out Benfica starlet Angel Di Maria - report

Chelsea non-executive director Peter Kenyon has been in Portugal to keep tabs on the progress of Benfica forward Angel Di Maria, according to a report from Sky Sports.

Kenyon stepped down from his role as chief executive at Stamford Bridge in November, though he continues to represent the club on a number of football-related bodies in Europe.

He would not confirm that he had been checking up on Di Maria, but Portuguese media sources suggest that he was there to meet Benfica directors in order to discuss a possible move.

The Argentine starlet is also said to be being courted by Inter and Manchester City, with the Portuguese giants said to be holding out for a €40 million [£35m] fee for the 22-year-old.

"It is true I stayed in Lisbon in answer to your question, but I will not offer more details," Kenyon is quoted as saying by Portuguese sports newspaper O Jogo.

"Is Di Maria a footballer of interest to us? I have no comment to make.

"Benfica insist that they are yet to receive a formal offer for the player, but reports indicate that Kenyon also met Di Maria's agent, Jorge Mendes, with a view to brokering a deal.

Chelsea close to sealing £36 million deal for Benfica’s Angel di Maria - report

Chelsea are reportedly on the verge of sealing a £36 million deal for Benfica forward Angel di Maria, according to the News of the World.

The tabloid claims that Carlo Ancelotti’s men sent former chief executive Peter Kenyon, who left the club at the end of last year but is close to the player’s agent Jorge Mendes, to Lisbon last week for negotiations.

The highly-rated Argentine has been linked with a number of clubs this season, including Spainish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, but Chelsea may have won the race for the 22-year-old's signature.

Indeed the report quotes a Benfica source as admitting: “Chelsea are very keen on a deal now before taking him [Angel di Maria] to London in the summer. He seems to be a top priority.

”The player himself, who joined Benfica in 2007, has previously been quoted as saying: “I'll stay a year [at Benfica] and then go to Chelsea".

Di Maria was in action in the Europa League in midweek, bagging a goal in only the fourth minute for the Portuguese side in their 1-1 draw away to Hertha Berlin.

Chelsea remain in pursuit of Valencia hotshot David Villa - report

Chelsea move to the head of the pack of clubs in the market for Valencia's talented striker David Villa, the News of the World understands.

Despite the prolificness of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, collectively responsible for 37 goals so far this season, the Blues could enter the summer market for a striking addition.

Los Che, the News of the World reports, will reluctantly accept bids that exceed £30 million due to the precarious nature of their finances.

Real Madrid may rival Chelsea for Villa's signature, but Madrid could give Karim Benzema an extra chance to prove himself following the Frenchman's high-profile transfer from Olympique Lyonnais.

Villa, 28, has - true to form - returned a commendable goal record so far this season. He has struck 15 goals from 21 appearances in Spain's Primera Division, and is rivalling Barcelona's World Player of the Year Lionel Messi for the Pichichi.

Chelsea to splurge £70m on Bastian Schweinsteiger, Marek Hamsik, Angel Di Maria & Neven Subotic - report

Chelsea are targeting the signatures of four leading young European players to infuse some youth into their ageing squad, according to The Express.

The Stamford Bridge outfit have reportedly made Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, Napoli's Marek Hamsik, Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic and Benfica winger Angel Di Maria their top transfer targets during the summer.

Schweinsteiger, 25, is the oldest of the quartet as the Blues look to secure the building blocks for a successful future.

Club owner Roman Abramovich is said to be in agreement with a binge on the transfer market, following the recent lifting of the transfer embargo that had originally been imposed by FIFA for the illegal transfer of Gael Kakuta.

It is claimed that the influx of fresh faces will take place irrespective of the club's fortunes this season - even if the best case scenario of winning the treble comes to pass.

The prospective moves are believed to be the first step by Abramovich and manager Carlo Ancelotti in a transition to add younger players to a squad that boasts several big names now in their thirties.

Currently, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Paulo Ferreira and Ricardo Carvalho are all 31 years old, while Deco is 32, and Juliano Belletti and Michael Ballack 33.

The Express conjectures that the addition of the four young stars will pave the way for Ferreira, Belletti and Deco to leave Stamford Bridge as Chelsea focus on a new generation of players.

Chelsea will make an official offer for Napoli's Marek Hamsik - Carlo Iacomuzzi

Chelsea will make a €30 million offer for Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik in the summer, claims a former scout who worked on behalf of the Premier League club.

Carlo Iacomuzzi, who was a transfer market observer for the west London side, has said they have plans to make a move for Hamsik, and it has been authorised by Roman Abramovich.

Speaking to Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli, he said: "I watched Hamsik many times on behalf of Chelsea and I know that scouts have come to see him this year to see how he is getting on.

"How much is he worth? This depends on the requests. But I would say that €30m is not enough for him because he can improve and has potential.

"He can improve playing in a team of champions which has players like Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard.

"Abramovich has a feeling for the deal and I am convinced Chelsea will make an official offer for Hamsik this year.

"Reports in Italy last month claimed Hamsik was in line for a contract extension with Napoli taking his deal to 2015.

Chelsea lining up £9 million swoop for Newcastle United star Steven Taylor

Chelsea are rumoured to be preparing a £9 million summer raid for highly-rated Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor.

The Sunday Mirror claims the 24-year-old has been watched on numerous occasions by Blues scout Bryan 'Pop' Robson - a former Magpies striker - and that manager Carlo Ancelotti is keen to add the former England Under-21 skipper to his ranks.

Taylor has been in fine form this season, inspiring Newcastle to the top of the Championship with a string of solid performances, and with Premier League's home-grown quotas set to increase from next season, Ancelotti is believed to be targeting the London-born star as a long term successor to Ricardo Carvalho in the Chelsea defence.

Everton were reported to be close to securing Taylor in the summer, but the combative centre-back chose to stay and help his boyhood club Newcastle out of the Championship following the Magpies' ignominious relegation from the Premier League last season.

However, a move to Chelsea, and the chance to play alongside John Terry - for whom Taylor has openly stated his admiration - is likely to be too good an opportunity to turn down.