Callum O'Connell

Sat 8 July 2023 8:10, UK

Porto are demanding a fee of more than £17million if they are to let striker Mehdi Taremi leave this summer, as he draws interest from Everton among a host of other clubs, according to O Jogo [page 4].

The report suggests that the Everton target has not yet received an offer from any club, but Porto would be reluctant to sell for less than £17million as they put their foot down over his price tag.

Taremi has long been linked to a move away, although the report goes on to state he would rather continue playing in the Champions League with Porto, rather than settle for mid-table in a top league, and has made it known he won’t accept anything.

English clubs Everton, Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham have joined European clubs such as AC Milan and Marseille in the pursuit of Taremi’s signature, with the player revealing his future “will know soon” when asked about a possible move.

Everton could do better deals

If Porto are set to stick to their high price tag this summer despite just one year remaining on Taremi’s contract, Everton should look elsewhere for a deal that suits them better, especially with the striker’s reluctance to leave.

His £17million fee is close to what Everton ultimately refused to pay in a deal for 25-year-old Viktor Gyokeres, who is set for a move to Porto’s rivals Sporting CP [Fabrizio Romano, 7 July], and therefore seems unlikely to be the type of money they’d pay for a player who turns 31 in one week’s time.

Among Everton’s other striker options would be deals for Sheffield United forward Iliman Ndiaye, who looks like an ideal signing for the Toffees, Swansea striker Joel Piroe [Tutto Salernitana, 7 July] and El Bilal Toure who could cost around £35million [Daily Mail, 29 May].

There are plenty of deals for other striker Everton have been linked with that give better value for money than what Porto are asking for Taremi.

In other Everton news, positive talks have taken place in their deal for Championship striker.