Everton Targets Marcus Tavernier for Squad Reshape
Everton’s recruitment drive shows no sign of slowing – and Marcus Tavernier is firmly on their radar.
Former senior scout at Goodison Park, King, believes the Bournemouth midfielder is exactly the profile the club should be targeting as they try to reshape Sean Dyche’s squad. For him, Tavernier is not just available; he is arriving at the perfect moment in his career.
“He’s a gainer in the 25, 26, 27 age, isn’t he?” King told Football Insider, underlining what clubs crave in the market: players stepping into their prime. “So, you know, you’re looking at him, again, good age. He’s done well.”
King’s admiration goes beyond the birth certificate. What really catches the eye is Tavernier’s flexibility.
“He can play midfield, he can play wide,” King said. That kind of versatility has been badly missing at Everton in recent seasons, where systems have often been dictated by a lack of options rather than tactical choice. “You know, he could be an interesting player to bring in with Johnson. He could certainly lift the midfield, couldn’t he?”
Tavernier’s work at Bournemouth backs that up. He has grown into a reliable Premier League performer in a club that has quietly built a reputation for smart trading.
“He’s done well at Bournemouth,” King added. “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.”
That track record is precisely why prising Tavernier away will not be straightforward.
Journalist Ben Jacobs revealed on 9 August that Everton have already moved to test the waters. Posting on his personal X account, Jacobs reported: “Understand Everton have made an enquiry on Marcus Tavernier. Initial talks on the player side. No approach to Bournemouth.”
So Everton have knocked on the player’s door, but not yet on the club’s. For now, it is interest, not a negotiation.
If the deal does advance, Tavernier would be another significant piece in a sweeping overhaul. Everton have already brought in Brennan Johnson, Merlin Rohl, Tyrique George, Hayden Hackney, and Christian Norgaard, signalling a clear attempt to refresh the spine and the energy of the side.
Add Tavernier’s running power and positional range to that mix, and Everton’s midfield – so often flat and predictable – suddenly starts to look mobile, interchangeable, and far harder to read.
The question now is simple: will Bournemouth be willing sellers, and can Everton afford the price of a player stepping into his peak at just the moment they need him most?
