Chelsea are set to complete the loan signing of Alexandre Pato early this week.

A report in the Daily Mail suggests that Blues were finalising an initial temporary deal for the Corinthians forward on Sunday night which is expected to come to fruition soon. It is suggested there will be an option for a permanent deal in the summer.

Chelsea are keen to strengthen their attack as they launch an assault on an unlikely top-four finish in the second half of the season and the former AC Milan man, who spent last year on loan at Sao Paulo, is keen to play in the Premier League.

26-year-old Brazilian Pato will provide competition for Diego Costa with Loic Remy being heavily linked with a Stamford Bridge departure and Radamel Falcao likely to return to parent club Monaco if he cannot return to full fitness soon.

Pato scored 26 goals for Sao Paulo during his loan spell, 10 of which came in the Campeonato Serie A.