Chelsea are among a host of clubs on a scouting mission in Porto with different targets

Chelsea and Tottenham on a scouting mission in Porto with transfer targets on display

According to A’Bola (h/t Express), scouts from 17 clubs, including Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, were in attendance to watch Porto play Braga on Friday night. The former won the game 4-1.

It is also revealed that the two Premier League clubs, also London rivals, had different targets in their mind while watching the game.

During the latter half of the summer transfer window, it was disclosed that Chelsea made an approach to sign Porto striker Mehdi Taremi. The Blues were in talks with the Portuguese club to negotiate a move, but nothing materialised.

Eventually, on the deadline day, the West London club managed to buy striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Barcelona to fill up the vacant number nine position.

Taremi was a target for Chelsea because of his stellar last few seasons in the Portuguese league. The Iranian international scored 20 goals and assisted 13 in 32 league appearances last season. He has started this campaign with five goals and three assists in eight league appearances.

Keeping those numbers in mind, it was understandable why Porto did not entertain the offer made by Chelsea. The player has been too important for them in the last few years and finding his replacement so late in the summer window would have been impossible.

It remains to be seen whether the Blues’ scout were present on Friday to watch Taremi or keep an eye on other targets. The Portuguese League has become a talent hub from where big clubs in England and Europe are signing players and they are doing well in their respective new clubs.

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• Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly to target three positions for investment next summer

Although the Iranian international turned 30 this year, it seems as if he has quite a few years left in him to produce at the highest level. However, with Aubameyang (33) signed, it won’t make a lot of sense to buy another striker of the same similar age group. Somebody younger would be nice to be a long-term replacement for the Gabon star.