Everton Targets Marcus Tavernier for Recruitment Drive

Everton’s recruitment drive shows no sign of slowing, and Marcus Tavernier is the latest name firmly on their radar.

Former senior scout at Goodison Park, King, sees the Bournemouth midfielder as exactly the kind of profile the club should be targeting – both in age and in versatility.

“He’s a gainer in the 25, 26, 27 age, isn’t he? So, you know, you’re looking at him, again, good age. He’s done well,” King told Football Insider, underlining a belief that Tavernier is entering the prime years of his career rather than merely promising them.

What really catches the eye for King is how many roles Tavernier can cover.

“He can play midfield, he can play wide. You know, he could be an interesting player to bring in with Johnson. He could certainly lift the midfield, couldn’t he?”

That flexibility has become a theme of Everton’s summer. The club have already moved for Brennan Johnson, Merlin Rohl, Tyrique George, Hayden Hackney, and Christian Norgaard as they attempt a full-scale refresh of Sean Dyche’s options. Tavernier, a former Middlesbrough standout now established at Bournemouth, would add another energetic, press-resistant runner into that mix.

King also pointed to Bournemouth’s track record in the market as a marker of Tavernier’s value.

“He’s done well at Bournemouth. You know, when you look at Bournemouth’s recruitment, it’s been very good, hasn’t it? I mean, Christ, they’ve made a lot of money on sale of players. Bringing them in cheapish and selling them for big money.”

Everton’s interest is not just speculation. On 9 August, journalist Ben Jacobs reported on his X account that the club have already taken initial steps.

“Understand Everton have made an enquiry on Marcus Tavernier. Initial talks on the player side. No approach to Bournemouth,” Jacobs revealed, indicating that discussions have started around the player’s side of any potential deal, but that the south-coast club are yet to receive a formal bid.

So the pieces are moving, but the decisive call has not yet been made.

If Everton do push ahead and agree a deal, Tavernier would not simply be another body through the door. He would be a statement that this rebuild is about legs, intensity, and tactical variety in the middle and wide areas – the kind of attributes that can change the feel of a season.