Manchester United eye 31-goal striker, months after Rio Ferdinand praise

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Porto star Mehdi Taremi is the latest striker to be linked with Manchester United as Erik ten Hag eyes a new frontman.

We can expect to see rumour after rumour surrounding a new centre forward arriving at Old Trafford this summer.

Wout Weghorst’s loan is over and is unlikely to be extended whilst Anthony Martial clearly can’t be relied upon regularly.

Ten Hag needs a new striker to try and take United forward next season and names like Randal Kolo Muani, Rasmus Hojlund and Victor Osimhen are regularly linked.

Taremi is more of a surprise option though.

Iranian news outlet IMNA report that United are in the race to sign the Porto striker this summer.

A raft of other clubs are mentioned too; AC Milan, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Fenerbahce and even Bayern Munich are allegedly keen too.

It’s even stated that Bayern have already started talks with Porto over a €15million (£13million) deal for Taremi.

Taremi turns 31 next month and may seem like another short-term solution after the Weghorst experiment.

Taremi’s recent record is much more impressive than Weghorst’s though, smashing 31 goals and 14 assists this past season.

Five goals and two assists even came in the Champions League, so Taremi has shown that he can make an impact at the top level.

Rio Ferdinand is a huge fan of Mehdi Taremi

If anybody with Manchester United connections would love this move to come off, it’s Rio Ferdinand.

The former United defender was on punditry duty for BBC Sport when Taremi lined up for Iran against England at the World Cup in Qatar.

Taremi scored twice in that game and Ferdinand hyped him up before a ball was even kicked.

Ferdinand suggested that Taremi really ‘knows how to score’, praising his goalscoring record for Iran alongside his Porto form.

Ferdinand noted that Taremi is somewhere between a nine and a 10, believing that he can link up play from deep really well and is a major threat when in on goal.

“Mehdi Taremi knows how to score goals,” said Ferdinand. “1 in 2 at international level, seven in 13 games in qualifying. He’s a bit of a hybrid between a nine and a 10. He’s very happy to come short and link things in and tee other people up. He’s adept at going right through and scoring goals and when he gets through, this guy knows how to score,” he added.

Taremi may only be a backup target if United can’t land a top name this summer, but he could give Ten Hag a proven goalscoring option.