Everton Targets Marcus Tavernier for Midfield Reinforcement

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, believes the Bournemouth midfielder is moving into the perfect window of his career and fits exactly what the club are trying to build.

“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 why Tavernier’s profile appeals. The age bracket matters at Everton now: old enough to be battle-tested, young enough to grow in value.

What really catches the eye is his flexibility.

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

That versatility has become a theme of Everton’s summer. The club have already moved for players who can operate across multiple roles, and Tavernier would slide neatly into that strategy, offering energy and creativity both centrally and out wide.

King also pointed to Bournemouth’s recent track record in the market as a sign of Tavernier’s pedigree.

“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.”

In other words, if Bournemouth are backing a player and developing him, clubs are taking notice.

The interest from Everton is not just speculation. On 9 August, journalist Ben Jacobs confirmed the situation on his personal X account, writing: “Understand Everton have made an enquiry on Marcus Tavernier. Initial talks on the player side. No approach to Bournemouth.”

So the lines of communication are open with the player’s camp, even if Bournemouth have not yet been formally engaged. For now, it sits in that delicate early stage: serious enough to be real, not advanced enough to call it a negotiation.

If a deal does come together, Tavernier would join a sweeping overhaul at Goodison Park. The former Middlesbrough man would add to a list of arrivals that already includes Brennan Johnson, Merlin Rohl, Tyrique George, Hayden Hackney, and Christian Norgaard.

Everton wanted legs, depth, and options across the pitch this summer. Tavernier, right in the heart of his peak years and able to plug multiple gaps, looks exactly like the kind of piece that can change the feel of a midfield in one stroke.