Harry Redknapp questions whether Alexandre Pato is a good signing for Chelsea

Former Queens Park Rangers boss Harry Redknapp has admitted he cannot understand why Chelsea plan to sign Alexandre Pato. The 68-year-old pundit does not think the Brazilian forward is better than Chelsea's current attacking options and has revealed he rejected the chance to sign Pato during his time in charge of Rangers.

Pato, 26, is poised to sign for the Blues after a three-year spell back in Brazil. But Redknapp thinks the forward has lost some of the sparkle that made him such a stand-out player during his teenage years.

"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 told the Evening Standard. "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."

Despite his reputation, Redknapp thinks Pato is an inferior player to those who are already at Chelsea. He suggested the Brazilian will struggle to make an impact on the first team while at Stamford Bridge.

"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," Redknapp said.

Chelsea currently languish in 13th position in the Premier League, having sacked Jose Mourinho in December. However, Pato's signing should boost Chelsea's attacking options, which have been depleted by a recent injury to Radamel Falcao.