AC Milan are convinced they stand a good chance of securing a return for forward Alexandre Pato in January, according to reports.

Pato, 29, spent an injury ravaged spell at the San Siro from 2007-13. He did, however, manage to score 63 times in 150 matches before his exit to Corinthians and is remembered fondly.

Calciomercato have stated that sporting director Leonardo is aware that the club’s top transfer targets – Aaron Ramsey, Leonardo Paredes and Adrien Rabiot – are unlikely to be available in the winter market. This means he has instead decided to bring in Corinthians centre-back Rodrigo Caio on loan and explore taking advantage of Pato’s desire to leave China’s Tianjin Quanjian.

Since he left Milan, the Brazil attacker has also featured for Sao Paulo, Chelsea and Villarreal. In the Chinese Super League, he’s plundered 25 goals in 40 appearances.