Marcus Tavernier is reportedly the latest Bournemouth star attracting the Premier League's biggest clubs, with Arsenal and Manchester United both monitoring the 27-year-old ahead of the January transfer window.
The versatile forward has scored six goals in 14 appearances in all competitions this season under Marco Rose, and his form on Bournemouth's left flank has not gone unnoticed. According to TEAMtalk, both Arsenal and United have been keeping close tabs on his progress, while Newcastle United remain long-term admirers and Tottenham Hotspur considered a move during the summer.
Tavernier, who joined Bournemouth from Middlesbrough and is contracted until the summer of 2029, has emerged as far more than a conventional winger. He can operate across the forward line, in midfield or even at wing-back — the kind of flexibility that makes a January target especially valuable.
Why Arsenal want him
Arsenal are in the market for a new left winger, and TEAMtalk reports that the Gunners have been compiling detailed scouting reports on Tavernier as they assess their options. Mikel Arteta is understood to be a keen admirer of the Leeds-born attacker.
Nor is Tavernier the only Cherries player on Arsenal's list. The north London club are also huge admirers of teenage forward Eli Junior Kroupi and have been watching midfielder Alex Scott closely — a triple focus on the Vitality Stadium that underlines how highly Bournemouth's recruitment is now rated across the league. Sports Mole's round-up of the race stresses, however, that nothing is advanced yet and no formal approach has been made.
United's rival plan
United, though, could spoil the party. TEAMtalk understands that technical director Jason Wilcox has tasked the club's recruitment department with continuing its work on potential targets, with Tavernier among the players being assessed. United want to add a left-back and a forward in the new year.
There is a catch at Old Trafford: those priorities could change if Michael Carrick loses his job amid mounting pressure on the United manager — a saga that took another twist on Thursday when Deschamps reportedly turned down the chance to replace him. Any managerial change would reshape United's January list, which is exactly why Arsenal may try to move first.
So what: Bournemouth hold the cards
Bournemouth are in a position of real strength. Tavernier's deal runs to 2029, the club are flying — Thursday's comeback win at Sparta Prague made it four wins from four in their debut Europa League campaign — and they have already shown with past sales that they do not let prized assets leave cheaply or mid-season without a fight.
That means any January deal would demand a major fee, and a summer move may be the more realistic outcome unless one of the chasing clubs pays a premium to force the issue. What is certain is that Tavernier's stock has never been higher, and Bournemouth's remarkable season is now attracting admiring glances from every direction.
Beyond the Final Whistle: Tavernier is exactly the kind of signing Arsenal's left flank has been crying out for — direct, versatile and producing numbers now, not in two years. United's interest is real but hostage to the chaos around their dugout, so if the Gunners are serious, January is the moment to strike before Old Trafford gets its house in order. Should Arsenal pay big to land Tavernier in January, or would Bournemouth be mad to sell mid-season? Let us know in the comments.
