Alexandre Pato reportedly faces the prospect of being sent back to Brazil without playing a single game for new side Chelsea.
The 26-year-old, who only joined from South American giants Corinthians in January, has been suffering from a lack of fitness in recent weeks.
Pato looked to have been closing in on a first-team appearance for the Blues but, according to reports back in his Brazilian homeland, Chelsea have already given up any hope of getting him up to full fitness.
It could mean the former AC Milan man departing without touching a single ball during his Chelsea stay, with his loan due to end in the summer and no plans said to be in place to extend that deal further.
Pato described making a switch to Stamford Bridge as a "dream come true", having previously been linked with moves to Manchester United and Liverpool.
