Redknapp looks to land former Brazilian wonderkid The Brazilian striker is currently plying his trade back in his homeland and Redknapp is looking to offload Adel Taraabt to fund a move for the 25-year-old LatinContent/Getty Images please log in to view this image Duck tails: Harry is lining up a move for Alexandre Pato Harry Redknapp is plotting an exciting move to lure former Brazilian wonderkidAlexandre Pato to QPR on loan. The Loftus Road manager is trying to fund the deal by offloading £65,000-a-week Adel Taraabt to wealthy Dubai club Al-Ahli. He hopes to replace Taraabt with a shock swoop for striker Pato, 25, once one of Europe’s top youngsters at AC Milan, where he played from 2007-2012. Pato returned to his native Brazil in 2013 to sign for Corinthians and is currently on loan at Sao Paulo. But Redknapp has agents trying to line up a deal to bring him to England after being told his own job at struggling Rangers is safe by chairman Tony Fernandes. But he knows he has to be creative in the market to raise funds to reinvest. He is desperate for more firepower to boost 19th-placed QPR’s attack as they are heavily reliant on 13-goal Charlie Austin. Ben Hoskins please log in to view this image On the move: Redknapp is looking to shift out-of-favour Adel Taarabt Redknapp loaned out Taraabt , 25, to AC Milan last January and is now trying to shift the mercurial Morocco international again after a public rift with him in October when he criticised the player’s weight and fitness. Taraabt has since been given a chance in QPR’s last two games but Rangers have lost them both. Now Redknapp is willing to offload him to Dubai in a bid to finance a deal for Pato. In 2008-2009 Pato was Milan’s top scorer with 18 goals and earned the 2009 Serie A Young Footballer of the Year but injuries hampered his development.
I think this is a disaster waiting to happen kind of signing - no experience of the PL - big name and big money signing. I notice reports say he was offered to us which makes me wonder how much of a soft touch our recruitment team are considered to be. Logic dictates if he was that much of an asset he would not need to be touted around, and he has not been setting Brazilian football on fire recently having been loaned by his parent club. With a history of hamstring injuries, is he a younger, continental version of Andy Johnson with his best years behind him?
Redknapp has denied any interest to Sky. Was offered him but not for us. No one has contacted us re Adel, who is ill and not training this week. It's difficult and also not easy to get the right players in at this time of year. Not close to signing anyone. Let's speculate. Redknapp allegedly was given an extra £90k a week to spend on loan wages. Up to £60k of which blown on an unfit Zarate, behind Carlton Cole in the pecking order at West Ham (but still could turn out ok. I mean, law of averages and all that). I would have thought that £30k plus would be enough to get one or two lower league or desperate for a game players in, but anything more and we have to ship players out (and get the receiving clubs to pay their wages if on loan) to add to the wage fund. Meanwhile SWP and Phillips are turning down offers to go away. So any links to anyone you have heard of are likely to be bullshit until we have divested ourselves of a couple of underperforming assets.
Pointless signing. I'd much rather us go for someone like Britt Assombalonga - granted he'd cost, but he's the next Dwight Gayle, only better.