Medical scheduled: Chelsea set to complete transfer by Tuesday as paperwork finalised

By Chelsea correspondent Tony Hughes| Premier League expert with experience of breaking big stories, including exclusives like this

Alexandre Pato is set to undergo a Chelsea medical after agreeing the terms of a loan move to the club, Football Insider sources understand.

The Premier League champions could announce the transfer of the Brazil striker as early as Tuesday after a breakthrough in talks with his club Corinthians over the weekend.

Pato is set to join Chelsea on loan until the end of the season subject to medical tests and work permit clearance.

A Chelsea source has told Football Insider that personal terms have been agreed in principle between Pato and the Londoners after he was given permission to negotiate a transfer.

Corinthians were keen on a permanent transfer for the 26-year-old but Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink urged the club to assess the fitness and hunger of the player before sanctioning a long-term deal.

As reported by Football Insider last week Pato has spoken to countryman Willian about the possibility of a move and the players in the Blues squad expect the deal to be completed.

There is a growing sense among those close to the situation that a deal is nearly finalised although Pato will require a work permit to play in the UK before the deal would become official.

Pato has just completed a relatively productive two-year loan spell at Sao Paolo but has fallen out of favour at his parent club, partly due to fitness issues.

Pato has not played competitive football since November so will lack the required match fitness to step straight into the first-team.

Nevertheless, the forward has considerable pedigree. He has slipped down the pecking order for the Brazil national team but has a creditable record of 10 goals in 28 matches for his country, as well as 63 in 150 matches for AC Milan, where he spent five-and-a-half years.

Chelsea are keen to provide forward back-up to Diego Costa as they attempt to salvage something from a difficult season. They have made enquiries for Sadio Berahino and Jamie Vardy but are not hopeful of signing either of them.

Costa is the undisputed first choice at Stamford Bridge, but, the only other options are Radamel Falcao, who is out until March with a thigh injury, and Loic Remy. In total, the back-up pair have scored just four goals between them this season.

In other Chelsea news, Ramires is set to join Chinese Super League team Jiangsu Suning in a shock £25million transfer.