Neil Warnock is expecting Premier League interest in reported Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers target Marcus Tavernier this summer but has told the Northern Echo the winger wants to stay at Middlesbrough.
While James Tavernier has enjoyed the best season of his career at Rangers, wresting the Scottish Premiership crown from bitter rivals Celtic, the right-back’s younger brother can also be proud of his efforts in 2020/21.
21-year-old Marcus is starting to make good on his vast potential at the Riverside, his stand-out performances in the Championship catching the eye of clubs in the division above.
TEAMtalk claims Leeds, Everton, Leicester City and Wolves have all been watching Tavernier closely in recent months.
And while these rumours will come as no surprise to Warnock, the veteran gaffer believes his Newcastle-born winger will still be plying his trade in the north east next term – even if Middlesbrough miss out on promotion.
“I think there will be certain interest in Tav from the Premier League this summer,” says former Leeds boss Warnock.
“All the players know my situation, that I’m here next year. And they all know it would need to be an unbelievable offer that gets anybody out of here because if I’m here, they’re here.
“Tavernier is a very important player in my plans for next season.
“I had a chat with him about two months ago and told him I had decided to stay and he wouldn’t be going anywhere. And he said: ‘Gaffer, I don’t want to go anywhere. I’m loving every minute.”
“I can’t ask any more than that, can I?”
He certainly can’t.
Tavernier’s loyalty may be put to the test, however, if he’s offered an opportunity to prove himself in the Premier League while honing his talents under a coach such as Marcelo Bielsa, Carlo Ancelotti, Brendan Rodgers or Nuno Espirito Santo.
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