By RYAN TAYLOR – The Daily Express
UPDATED: 16:44, Sat, Aug 5, 2023
Tottenham are reportedly trying to land Mehdi Taremi from Porto
Super-agent Jorge Mendes is ‘on the ground’ negotiating the potential transfer of Porto striker Mehdi Taremi to Tottenham, according to reports in Portugal. The Iranian is the subject of shock talks with Spurs and that would suggest Daniel Levy is exploring the prospect of adding attacking reinforcements to Ange Postecoglou’s squad as the uncertainty surrounding Harry Kane’s future threatens to rumble on.
But there has now been a surprise twist after it emerged Tottenham were looking into a surprise swoop for 31-year-old Taremi.
According to Record in Portugal, Mendes is working on bringing the Iran international to north London for Levy and Co.
Tottenham are reportedly prepared to pay £21m for Taremi and hopes they can shake off competition from the likes of AC Milan for the player.
Porto are looking for at least £26m, however, and even still are reluctant to lose their star man so close to the start of a new season.
Taremi is mindful that this could be his last chance to play in the Premier League as he approaches the latter stages of his career.
There has already been interest from England this summer from Sean Dyche’s Everton.
However, the offer was of little interest to Taremi, who recently told Varzesh3: “Now there is an opportunity, but even now, for example, Everton’s offer doesn’t interest me.”
He also claims he had the chance to join Newcastle back in 2021 but he instead opted to play Champions League football with Porto.
Taremi continued: “I have had an offer from Newcastle but I rejected their offer because we were in the Champions League and I could play against teams like Liverpool, AC Milan, and Atletico Madrid.
“I preferred to stay at Porto because Newcastle were fighting to remain in the Premier League and I didn’t think they could qualify for the UCL after their bad season.”
Spurs chairman Levy has now reportedly flown to the USA for a two-week holiday, which could scupper Bayern’s chances of landing Kane.
It has been suggested that the striker would favour staying in north London if a move hasn’t been resolved by the start of the new season next weekend.