Inter Miami are set to spend big in the January transfer window after a disappointing run in the MLS play-offs.
The Herons crashed out of the first round of the post-season with Javier Mascherano succeeding Tata Martino as a result, with the Argentine coach set to make some big chances in the coming weeks leading into the 2025 season.
Inter Miami have already been linked with the likes of Angel Di Maria and James Rodriguez, with Mohamed Salah also on the Herons’ radar as the Florida franchise look to bring in another forward to help partner Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
And an option from Boca Juniors has now emerged for Inter Miami.
Inter Miami keeping tabs on Boca Juniors star Miguel Merentiel
According to El Crack Deportivo, Inter Miami are monitoring Boca Juniors attacker Miguel Merentiel, who has a release clause worth $18m and could be on the move from the South American giants at the end of the season.
The 28-year-old Uruguay international has been in impressive form for Boca in recent years, with Merentiel this season bagging 17 goals and seven assists in all competitions for the Argentine side.
| Miguel Merentiel for Boca Juniors | Games played | Goals | Assists |
| 2024 | 47 | 17 | 7 |
| 2023 | 50 | 18 | 5 |
| Total | 97 | 35 | 12 |
As per the report, though, club president and Argentine legend Juan Roman Riquelme is keen to rebuild Boca this winter after a disappointing season, with the sale of Merentiel a possibility if a club were to come in for the striker.
And with Inter Miami interested, there is a chance that the Florid franchise could move to bring Merentiel to MLS, where alongside Messi and Suarez the former Palmeiras star could become a real weapon for Mascherano next season.
Merentiel could become a superstar in MLS at Inter Miami
A good argument could be made that a striker like Merentiel is the last thing the Herons need this off-season, with Suarez recently signing a new contract with Inter Miami and Leonardo Campana still on the books for Mascherano’s side.
Yet at 28-years-old and coming off a second productive year at Boca, Merentiel could become a superstar in MLS with Inter Miami and the potential third member of the frontline alongside Messi and Suarez.
Indeed, Merentiel has shown in South America that he can be a reliable goalscorer, and playing alongside Messi and fellow countryman Suarez could push Inter Miami to new heights and unlock another area of their game heading into the new season.