According to John Percy, Bournemouth are close to signing Everton and Nottingham Forest target Marcus Tavernier.
What’s the story?
Well, Percy – who works for the Telegraph – believes Middlesbrough have accepted a bid worth £12m for the brother of Rangers right-back James Tavernier.
The 23-year-old will now head for the south coast to undergo a medical with the Cherries.
It comes after Nottingham Forest submitted a £10m bid for Tavernier, which was rejected.
Everton also had the Middlesbrough No.7 on their shortlist, although the Toffees are surely unlikely to make any late hijack attempts as they are now close to signing Dwight McNeil from Burnley.
Tavernier has attracted Premier League interest after a fantastic 2021/22 campaign for Middlesbrough last term, in which he scored five goals while also providing five assists.
The Leeds-born gem’s efforts in the Championship have drawn comparisons to Chelsea and England star Mason Mount, which tells you all you need to know about how talented he really is.
Who Everton & Nottingham Forest can sign after Bournemouth stole Tavernier
After Scott Parker beat Frank Lampard and Steve Cooper to Tavernier, they will need to find alternatives as the pair aim to strengthen their centre-midfield department.
In Everton’s case, they could turn their attention back to Morgan Gibbs-White, who they had a £20m bid rejected for a few weeks ago.
Wolves are said to be demanding £30m for the England Under-21 international, so it will be interesting to see if the Toffees submit another offer.
In Nottingham Forest’s case, they have swiftly turned their attention to William Carvalho, with talks now ongoing between the Championship play-off final winners and Real Betis.
It comes after a deal was also agreed with VfB Stuttgart for Orel Mangala.
Clearly, Nottingham Forest have alternatives, but it remains to be seen who Everton sign to bolster their midfield.
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