League Two side Northampton Town are on the verge of a change in ownership, with a consortium featuring former AC Milan, Chelsea and Brazil striker Alexandre Pato reportedly set to acquire a majority stake in the club, according to BBC Sport.
The investment group behind the move is known as Sports Alpha Capital, an organisation that had previously explored the possibility of taking control of Colchester United earlier this year. Those talks ultimately broke down before any agreement was reached, and the consortium's attention has since turned to the Cobblers.
While Pato is understood to be part of the group pursuing the takeover, reports indicate he is not the individual leading the consortium's efforts. The 36-year-old Brazilian hung up his boots last year following a playing career that included a memorable stint at AC Milan, where he became a fan favourite between 2007 and the early part of the following decade. During his five-and-a-half years at the San Siro, Pato netted 63 goals across 150 appearances and was part of the squad that lifted the Serie A title in the 2010-11 campaign.
His career also included a brief loan spell in English football with Chelsea during the second half of the 2015-16 season, arriving from Brazilian club Corinthians. Pato made an immediate impact on his debut for the Blues, converting a penalty in a resounding 4-0 victory away at Aston Villa.
The potential deal follows comments made last month by Northampton chairman Kelvin Thomas, who revealed that discussions with a