Everton Target Marcus Tavernier as Ideal Midfield Addition

Everton’s recruitment drive shows no sign of slowing and Marcus Tavernier is the latest name being pushed as an ideal fit for the new-look midfield.

Former Everton senior scout King believes the Bournemouth man is right on the verge of his peak years and ticks a crucial box for the club: 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 why Tavernier has come into sharp focus.

The age profile matters. Everton have been trying to lower the average age of the squad without sacrificing Premier League experience. Tavernier, who came through at Middlesbrough before establishing himself at Bournemouth, offers both.

King highlighted exactly why he sees the winger as such a useful piece of the puzzle.

“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 would give Everton extra options around new arrival Brennan Johnson, with Tavernier capable of operating centrally, drifting inside from the flank, or stretching play out wide. For a manager trying to rebuild structure and intensity, that kind of tactical plug-in is gold.

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

The implication is clear: if Bournemouth have backed him and kept him, there is a player there worth paying for.

Everton’s interest was first flagged publicly on 9 August by journalist Ben Jacobs, who reported the early stages of contact on his personal X account. Jacobs wrote: “Understand Everton have made an enquiry on Marcus Tavernier. Initial talks on the player side. No approach to Bournemouth.”

So the lines are open with the player’s camp, but no formal move has yet landed on Bournemouth’s desk. For now, it sits in that familiar Premier League holding pattern: interest registered, groundwork laid, club-to-club talks still to come.

If Everton do push it over the line, Tavernier would join a substantial summer overhaul. The Toffees have already brought in Brennan Johnson, Merlin Rohl, Tyrique George, Hayden Hackney, and Christian Norgaard as they attempt to reshape the spine and the supporting cast of the side.

One more energetic, positionally fluid midfielder in his mid‑20s could tilt that rebuild from promising on paper to genuinely dangerous on the pitch.