Tottenham, Inter Milan ready bids to sign Iran’s star striker Mehdi Taremi

Top-flight football clubs in England and Italy have ramped up efforts in recent days to sign Iranian striker Mehdi Taremi, who currently plays for the Portuguese football club FC Porto.

London-based Tottenham Hotspur, a top-league football club that plays in the English Premier League, is reportedly readying the bid for FC Porto striker and Iran international.

According to reports, Taremi will replace Harry Kane, Tottenham forward and England national team captain, with the club doling out a lucrative €24m (£21m) for the Iranian star.

Taremi, the 31-year-old start striker for Team Melli, Iran’s national football team, has been making waves in the European football circles with his superlative performances for FC Porto.

Last season, the Iranian football star weighed in with an impressive tally of 31 goals and 10 assists for the prestigious Portuguese football team, demonstrating his innate abilities.

Out of 31 goals, 7 came in the Champions League, which catapulted him to international fame and prompted top-rung clubs in the English Premier League to make bets on him.

He has in total notched up 80 goals in three seasons for the Portuguese club. Before joining the team, he had a magnificent season with the lesser-known Rio Ave club.  

Taremi, who has 36 international goals for Iran in 68 appearances, has been referred to as “the best Asian player in football right now”, ahead of his Iran teammate Sardar Azemoun, South Korea’s Heung-Min Son and Japan’s Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Football Talk website said the Spurs have decided to “rebuild” under the new manager Ange Postecoglou and have already signed new players to their crisis-hit squad.

Citing a report in A Bola, the website said Tottenham has “advanced with force” to rope in the Iranian, with an agreement already being worked out.

The report, however, added that Spurs would face competition from Inter Milan to sign Taremi.

Football journalist Sacha Tavolieri also took to Twitter on Tuesday to announce that Inter Milan too are eyeing the Iranian forward, offering €23m (£20m).

“As already written the 17th July, there is already a verbal agreement in personal terms between MilanAC & the player on 4 years contract,” he tweeted, adding that any proposal less than €23m will be rejected by FC Porto where Taremi has become a cynosure of all eyes.

Last season, there were reports about Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand reaching out to Taremi’s representatives to facilitate his move to the English Premier League.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir