Alexandre Pato targeted by Arsenal and Spurs could be available for £10m

Corinthians’ Pato fights for the ball with Goias’ Ernando in the Brazilian Serie A Championship.

North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are set to go head-to-head for ex-AC Milan forward Alexandre Pato, according to the Express.

Pato, 24, has been a bit-part player for Corinthians this season and despite scoring 8 for the Sao Paulo-based club, Lancenet are reporting that the forward is looking to return to Europe.

This disenchantment with life in his homeland has caused rumours linking him with the Premier League to resurface, with Spurs and Arsenal reportedly leading the way. The move, however, could be complicated by the fact that Pato has a clause in his current contract that will see him pocket 40% of any transfer fee Corinthians receive for him in the future. This means that the 2012 Copa Libertadores winners would have to receive just over £20m if they wanted to break even with Pato; they originally paid Milan £12.5m to sign Pato last January.

After bursting onto the scene as a teenager for Internacional, Pato picked up his game even further after signing for Milan in 2007, playing a key role in the club’s run in. However, as injuries began to become a more common occurrence in the youngsters career his form went out the window and he has struggled to find form and fitness in recent seasons.

Moving to the Premier League would certainly be a challenge for the Brazil international, but if he is wanting to live up to the praise that was thrust upon him at such an early age, then it is a challenge he must take seriously. Plenty of clubs will be willing to offer this forgotten forward a way out of South America, but does he still have the motivation to make something of his career?

Alexandre Pato is not faring well when it comes to taking on opponents this season; the former AC Milan forward has completed only 35 of his 81 attempted take-ons, a start contrast to his early days.