Harry Redknapp: 'I rejected Alexandre Pato at Queens Park Rangers'

Harry Redknapp has revealed that he rejected the chance to bring Brazil striker Alexandre Pato to England during his time in charge of Queens Park Rangers.

Pato, 26, who currently represents Corinthians in his homeland, is believed to be on the verge of signing a six-month contract with Chelsea.

Redknapp, however, has questioned the signing of the forward, claiming that Pato has "faded away" as a player since breaking into the AC Milan first team in 2007.

Redknapp told the London Evening Standard: "I was offered Pato at QPR this time last year but we turned him down because he wasn't what we needed at the time. He played against my Tottenham team when we faced AC Milan in the Champions League but seems to have faded away and ended up back in Brazil.

"They have already got Willian, Oscar and Eden Hazard — where is Pato going to play? They have about four or five players just like him so I don't see where he fits into Chelsea's team. Signing him looks like Chelsea just getting another body in, really. He's got the ability to play anywhere but he's not in the same class as Hazard."

Pato, who scored 63 times in 150 games for Milan between 2007 and 2012, has spent the last four seasons playing in Brazil.