Chelsea Transfer News: Guus Hiddink Talks January Window, Alexandre Pato Rumours

Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink has shot down rumours that his club is close to a deal for Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato, warning fans that they should expect little transfer activity during the January window.

As reported by Goal, the Dutchman believes Loic Remy's imminent return means the Blues don't have a clear need for another striker, and when asked if all transfer plans are currently on hold until the new manager arrives, Hiddink said:

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I think so. This is a realistic view and Chelsea has to deal with that. Also, in a new setting you never know if there shall be the influence of the new staff, new manager – they are question marks for Chelsea and for others who have to say yes or no to coming in. That is the reality of Chelsea nowadays. 

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Hiddink responded with a similar line when asked if reports linking the club to Pato had any substance: "No—on strikers I repeat now we have Diego Costa, Remy back and some youngsters who can fill up the gap so we are not in for that [a striker] at the moment."

Those comments are bad news for those hoping for major reinforcements during the January transfer window―likely a large part of the Blues' fanbase, given the club's horrid first half of the 2015-16 season (6-6-9).

The defending Premier League champions sit closer to the relegation zone than the top four in the standings, and Champions League football in 2016-17 seems a pipe-dream at this point.

IAN KINGTON/Getty Images

Costa has been one of the team's biggest disappointments so far this season, and with Remy struggling for fitness, the links to Pato made sense. The former Milan star has revitalised his career since returning to Brazil, and he seems readily available in January.

According to Darren Lewis of the Daily Mirror, Pato's current club, Corinthians, are actively trying to talk the Blues into a deal, as they no longer want the player in the squad. He most recently played on loan for Sao Paulo, where he put together an excellent campaign.

Here's a look at some of his highlights:

Once regarded as the next great Brazilian striker, Pato's career has been so marred by injuries that he seemingly gave up on his dream of making it in Europe by moving back to his native Brazil in 2013.

Italian giants Milan had signed him in 2007, and while Pato flashed his incredible talent on several occasions―including a fantastic solo goal against Barcelona in the Champions League―he never managed to consistently put up good numbers due to his injuries.

Per Selecao Brasileira, those concerns seem to be a thing of the past:

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Everyone asking me same question so I'll reply in this tweet once and for all: In 3 years in Brazil Pato has not suffered 1 serious injury.

— Seleção Brasileira (@BrazilStats) January 14, 2016"

Pato has blamed MilanLab, the Rossoneri technical research centre, for his numerous injuries, per La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t ESPN FC). Per Anthony Lopopolo of Bleacher Report, winger Stephan El Shaarawy has a similar story, so it appears the issues could be with the centre, not the players.

The January window was always likely to yield few major signings for the Blues, as Hiddink is only the team's interim manager. And it makes no sense to buy players who Hiddink's replacement may not want. The club's long-term strategy will become clear during the summer―for now, the Blues are all about immediate results.

A move for Pato wouldn't be a bad idea, as he should come fairly cheap given Corinthians' desire to get rid of him. But the likes of Charly Musonda, Bertrand Traore and Patrick Bamford have been waiting for their chance to shine. Now may the perfect time to turn to the younger players, with the pressure of a title race no longer weighing them down.

One solution may be to move Remy and have Costa and Pato as the top two options ahead of the youngsters, which David Woods of the Daily Star claims is exactly what the Blues are planning.

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