Newly-promoted Nottingham Forest could be set to make yet another summer signing, amid reports linking them with a move for Middlesbrough winger, Marcus Tavernier.
What’s the word?
According to Football League World, the Midlands side are one of a handful of clubs who are ‘weighing up’ a bid for the 23-year-old in the current window, with the Englishman reportedly set to cost in the region of £10m.
Should Forest sign Marcus Tavernier for £10m?
The Leeds-born gem still has two years remaining on his existing deal at the Riverside Stadium, although the report suggests that the Championship outfit are bracing themselves for offers from clubs in the top flight.
Forest have already made six summer signings in what’s been a hugely impressive window thus far, as Steve Cooper’s side prepare for a return to Premier League football for the first time since the 1998/99 season.
Sensational signing
While they may have to fend off significant rival interest, the City Ground outfit could be about to secure a hugely exciting new addition, with Tavernier having shone in recent seasons in the second tier.
Once described as “sensational” by journalist Graeme Bailey, the £4.05m-rated ace enjoyed a particularly impressive 2021/22 season, providing five goals and five assists in 44 league games for Boro, while also averaging a solid 1.6 key passes per game and registering two shots per game.
An electric presence in the final third, the £5.9k-per-week speedster – whose brother James is captain of Rangers – has also shown himself to be a dab hand defensively, notably registering 2.2 tackles and 0.8 interceptions last term.
Previously lauded for his “tireless” work ethic by Dominic Shaw, the 5 foot 10 menace has dazzled for his current side over the past few years, with it no real surprise to see him linked with a step up into the Premier League.
With Chris Wilder’s side facing another season outside of the top tier, it has seemingly come to a point where the youngster simply needs to move on, in order to test himself at the higher level.
Those at Forest have seen first-hand the carnage that the versatile forward can cause, with Tavernier having provided an assist in his side’s 2-0 victory when the two clubs met back in September, in what proved to be Chris Hughton’s final game in charge for the hosts.
It has been a remarkable turnaround for the club since then with Cooper at the helm, with there seemingly no obvious reason why the Boro man wouldn’t want to be part of a team that’s firmly on the up.
AND in other news – Imagine him & Awoniyi: Cooper can form deadly duo by signing “stunning” £10m star
