Fulham, remember Dejagah? There could now be a new Iranian in town... and Chelsea fans are haunted by the idea

Photo by Alessandro (Craven Cottage) & Wikimedia Commons (Taremi)

Story by Alessandro Schiavone

His overhead kick against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge is still living rent-free in Blues supporters' heads.

Mehdi Taremi's outrageous piece of art was the only goal in a quarter-final Champions League first-leg victory for Porto over the Blues in 2021.

Little did it do for the Portuguese giants as Chelsea turned the tie on its head on their way to Champions League glory that same year.

But his epic goal will instantly make him a hit among Fulham supporters should he sign for Chelsea's bitter rivals.

There's rarely a better way than introducing yourself to your new supporters having jabbed their big enemies.

It was a goal that will long live in the memory of football fans, akin to ex-Cottage hero Ashkan Dejagah's cracker at home to Everton in 2014.

One of few shining lights in Fulham's disgraced 2013/2014 campaign which culminated in a first relegation in 14 years, Dejagah still has a place in most Fulham supporters' hearts.

His fighting spirit, grit and the way he played the game, looking to take defenders by the scruff of their necks, made him a popular figure at the club.

The same can't be said about Taremi though as he endured a miserable spell as Inter Milan finished runners-up in Serie A and in the Champions League.

Unable to step out of the shadows of Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez last season, Taremi found the back of the net only on three occasions and often missed the unmissable in the box.

The 1992-born centre-forward may not have done justice to himself in Milan.

Yet to his defence he was used sparingly by Aleksandar Mitrovic's new Al-Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi.

But he made a pretty convincing case in his four years at Porto between 2020 and 2024 where he showed that he can rattle any defender and goalkeeper if he has his manager's faith.

And if anyone can get out the best of free-falling strikers, then that's Marco Silva who could unleash him with some mental work.

The ex-Sporting manager has a proud history of reviving confidence-shot strikers as his work on Mitrovic first and Rodrigo Muniz and especially Raul Jimenez later attested over the years.

An old-school centre-forward who depends on the service he gets, Taremi has all the ingredients to be a success at Craven Cottage where he'd be surrounded by generous wingers.

On paper Ryan Sessegnon, Adama Traoré and Alex Iwobi look tailor-made for Taremi to rediscover his mojo. The rest will come down to hard work at Motspur Park under Silva's exigent eye.

And motivation comes in large supply after being branded a Serie A flop by fans and media alike.

Finding himself in dire straits and with a prickled ego, Taremi is itching to turn a corner and ram a few words down a few throats.

And there's no better place than Fulham to do so.

Meanwhile Inter's interest striker in Parma striker Ange-Yoan Bonny means they are happy to get him off their books for as little as £3m.

And should a move to Fulham materialize, Taremi would not even need to break his west London goal duck...