Manchester United and West Ham United scouts were in attendance to watch Porto’s Primeira Liga clash against Gil Vicente on Saturday, according to A Bola (Sunday’s edition).
The Red Devils were widely linked with Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa last summer, but they ended up signing Andre Onana from Inter Milan. The other Porto player on their radar was striker Mehdi Taremi. He was probably the one in focus during Porto’s 2-1 win over Vicente.
A Bola claim that the Hammers also had representatives at the Estadio do Dragao and they may have been watching Taremi too. The east London outfit did not sign a specialist striker this summer despite parting ways with Gianluca Scamacca, who returned to Serie A with Atalanta.
Taremi would be a good striker signing
The Iran international was in stunning form for Porto last term. He registered 31 goals and 14 assists from 51 appearances in all competitions. AC Milan appeared the closest to signing him over the summer, but issues over intermediaries pulled the plug on a deal. Porto wanted €20 million.
United and West Ham now have the opportunity to prise him away on the cheap as his contract expires in June 2024. Porto may accept a cut-price deal this winter or allow him to leave on a free next summer. The Premier League duo can open talks over a pre-contract with him from January.
Despite turning 31, Taremi has not shown any signs of slowing down. He would be a good deputy behind Rasmus Hojlund at United. There are suggestions that the club could allow Anthony Martial leave on a Bosman deal once his contract expires next summer.
Meanwhile, the Hammers definitely need a striker reinforcement. Michail Antonio is the regular up front, but the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus can play there. However, having a player of Taremi’s calibre would be a plus for them.
The Iranian should easily adapt to the Premier League with his good hold-up play, but he offers much more with his passing and a good aerial presence to unsettle defences in the box. He would provide a difference dimension to the Hammers attack.
Stats form Transfermarkt.com
