Gianluca Di Marzio has confirmed that Porto striker Mehdi Taremi is a player on Inter Milan’s radar for the January transfer window.

The Sky Sport Italia transfer market expert revealed in his column in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Corriere della Sera, via FCInterNews, that the Nerazzurri could move for the Iranian conditional on the fitness of Marko Arnautovic.

The links between Inter and Taremi are growing stronger.

It now looks to be a question of “when” rather than “if” the Nerazzurri will make their attempt to sign the 31-year-old.

Taremi is out of contract with Porto at the end of next June. Therefore Inter could look to sign the striker next summer on a free transfer.

But reports also suggest that a move in January wouldn’t be out of the question.

Di Marzio confirms that Inter’s interest in Taremi is very real.

And the club’s strategy regarding the Porto striker relates strongly to the fate of Arnautovic.

The veteran former West Ham United and Stoke City striker is still out with an injury.

Arnautovic should return soon. But there are still question marks about whether the Austrian will be at 100%, or whether he can guarantee fitness and form over the rest of the season.

Di Marzio: Mehdi Taremi An Inter Target, January Move Dependent On Arnautovic

Di Marzio notes that as far as Inter’s summer signings go, “Onana paved the way, Thuram became the new harbinger of a real – winning – method on the transfer market.”

“Less convincing, at least so far, have been the returns of Sanchez and Arnautovic.”

“The latter has been held up by an injury. This will affect any interventions in attack during the January transfer market (Taremi remains on their radar).”

Di Marzio also notes that Inter directors “Marotta and Ausilio have become specialists in free transfers.”