Chelsea finalising Pato deal despite Hiddink reservations — reports

Much has been written about Alexandre Pato's Chelsea future over past 7-10 days and yet, as far as we can tell, he remains in limbo.

He's done with Sao Paulo, he's not training with Corinthians, he's not signed anything with Chelsea, he's not signed anything with any other team.  He's essentially unattached at this point, with Corinthians desperate to sell him but apparently no one quite desperate enough to pay good money for him.  A bit of an odd situation for someone who had decent success in the Brazilian league last season — his former coach Juan Carlos Osorio even called him one of the best inside lefts in the world back in September, for whatever that's worth.

Pato's agent did claim that four teams are interested, Chelsea chief amongst them, but amid rumors of Hiddink blocking the move, the interest seems to have largely died away this weekend.  But hark!  What light through yonder Daily Mail breaks?

"Chelsea were finalising a deal for 26-year-old Brazil forward Alexandre Pato on Sunday night [...] taking the striker on loan from Corinthians, with a possible permanent switch to follow."

-source: Mail

Given Falcao's own uncertain (though probably still terrible) future and Rémy's latest uninspiring showing, bringing in another transfer lottery ticket might almost make sense.  If it's truly just a (6-month?) loan with an option to buy, I suppose we could do worse.

One week left in the January transfer window.