Inter considering January move for Taremi: Report
Porto striker Mahdi Taremi could ultimately seal his much-talked-about move to the Italian top flight during the midseason transfer window, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
The Milan-based newspaper reported on Sunday that Inter is keen on signing the Iranian international in January to add to the depth of the frontline, though a secondary option could see the Serie A giant move for the Dragons’ frontman in the summer.
With Austrian Marko Arnautović out injured until November, and Chilean Alexis Sánchez far from his best form, Inter manager Simone Inzaghi is looking for a new number nine alongside Argentine skipper Lautaro Martínez.
Inter, runner-up in the Champions League last season, is currently second to Milan in the Italian league standing.
The 31-year-old Iranian, who registered 31 goals and 14 assists across all competitions for Porto last season – including 22 strikes which saw him finish as the leading marksman in the Portuguese league – came within inches of a summer contract with the Nerazzurri’s archrival, AC Milan, only to see the deal fall through on the transfer deadline day after failing to reach an agreement on personal terms.
Taremi, whose current contract at Porto runs until next July, has had a slow start to the new campaign, finding the net twice in 11 outings for the club.
Having missed out on the previous domestic league crown, Porto is third in the Primeira Liga table – trailing Sporting and Benfica by three and two points respectively – while sitting second in the Champions League group – three points adrift of Barcelona after two rounds of matches.
Taremi’s winter departure will be a major blow for head coach Sergio Conceicao but the Dragons could still be tempted to cash in on their Iranian asset in January rather than let him leave as a free agent next summer.