South American football expert Tim Vickery has claimed that Birmingham City can dream about landing free agent striker Alexandre Pato as long as they can make him a good offer. 

Reports at the end of October linked the Blues with a potential move for the high-profile free agent, who left Sao Paulo in August.

Italy was also touted as a potential destination for the 31-year-old, who spent six years with AC Milan, but Vickery has suggested that if the Championship club can table a good offer for the striker they may have a chance of getting a deal done.

He told Sky Sports: "He doesn't have a club at the moment, which is astonishing to think of someone who is 31 I believe and right at the start of his career seemed to be the long-term solution for Brazil at centre-forward. Their next world class centre-forward.

"I did television once with Clarence Seedorf, who played with him at Milan, and he said it's a crime that Pato isn't a global star.

"His career has run adrift, he doesn't have a club anymore. If Birmingham can put a good offer on the table, then why can't the Blues dream about landing someone who still, you would think, is young enough to do something in football."

Adding another option to the forward line looks as though it could be a wise move for Aitor Karanka, as only the bottom four sides in the division have scored fewer than their seven goals so far this term.

Scott Hogan and Lukas Jutkiewicz added a combined 21 goals last term but have managed only one between them so far this season, so it would be no surprise to see the Blues look to add some more cover and competition in that position from the free agent market.

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The Verdict 

Vickery's claim is an encouraging one for Birmingham and he makes a strong point, their hopes of landing Pato will surely hinge on how attractive an offer they can make him.

It would certainly be a risk but it could prove a fantastic signing for the Blues and one that provides the whole club with a momentum boost.

From a neutral's perspective, you'd hope they can get such a deal done because it would be fantastic to see the Brazilian playing in the Championship.