Everton are eager to sign Middlesbrough's Marcus Tavernier, according to 90min's Graeme Bailey.
The lowdown
The Toffees have only made one signing so far this summer, recruiting centre-back James Tarkowski, but Frank Lampard may see the need for midfield reinforcements after Fabian Delph left Goodison Park at the end of his contract.
Tavernier came through the youth ranks at Middlesbrough and has played 155 games for the club at senior level. The 23-year-old has been deployed in a variety of positions, featuring on both flanks, and as a number 6, 8 and 10.
The latest
Bailey shared the news that Middlesbrough have already rejected bids from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for Tavernier, but he claimed the newly-promoted duo could go back in for the player, on whom Everton are also keen.
He tweeted: "Middlesbrough reject bids from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for Marcus Tavernier. They will be back whilst others such as Leicester and Everton are also keen. Boro now battling to keep one of their star performers from last season."
In the corresponding 90min article, Bailey revealed that 'Boro are holding out for £15m after rebuffing offers 'worth around £10million'.
[web_stories_embed url="https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/everton-news-7/" title="Everton news!" poster="" width="360" height="600" align="none"]
The verdict
What would Tavernier bring to Everton?
He can score and create goals from his midfield berth, registering five goals and five assists in his 43 Championship appearances last season and 15 of each throughout his senior league career so far.
He is also adept at winning possession for his team, averaging 2.2 tackles per game - more than all but three Everton players in 21/22.
Sports journalist Josh Bunting feels that the 23-year-old ticks all the important boxes, dubbing him 'the complete footballer'.
Combined with Everton's pursuit of former Sheffield United loanee Morgan Gibbs-White, this suggests that Lampard and co view the Championship as a representative proving ground for identifying Goodison Park transfer targets.