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Sunderland have been offered the chance to sign Brazil striker Alexandre Pato for £5million.

The Black Cats – who have agreed to sell Connor Wickham to Crystal Palace for £9m – have opened talks on Pato, 25.

The former AC Milan star is on loan to Sao Paulo from Corinthians, where he has rediscovered his form.

Pato scored 51 goals for Milan in 117 Serie A games, but his spell at the San Siro was interrupted by a string of injuries.

With the futures of Steven Fletcher and Danny Graham uncertain, Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat has also been linked with Blackburn’s Jordan Rhodes.

North-East rivals Middlesbrough have already had a £12m bid rejected for the Scotland striker, 25.