Nottingham Forest will reportedly have to pay "a lot more" than the rumoured £10 million transfer fee if they are to sign Middlesbrough midfielder Marcus Tavernier this summer.
The 23-year-old is apparently a man in demand among the newly promoted Premier League sides ahead of their return to the division next month, with Bournemouth and the Reds both credited with an interest in the player. Established top-flight teams Everton, Leicester City and Southampton are also apparently interested in the versatile midfielder who played on the left, right and through the middle last season at the Riverside Stadium.
Tavernier scored five goals and assisted another quartet last season as Boro narrowly missed out on a play-off spot in the Championship. Despite only turning 23 in March, the former England youth international has already made more than 150 senior appearances for the North East club.
READ MORE: Nottingham Forest ‘make bid’ for Championship star but face Premier League competition
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Forest were first linked with 'weighing up' a bid on Wednesday, and those reports progressed by Saturday, with the club reported as having 'made a £10 million bid' alongside Bournemouth for Tavernier. Those reports added that the midfielder is seen as a 'younger replacement' for Joe Lolley, whose City Ground future is in doubt this summer after being told by head coach Steve Cooper that he no longer features in the boss' plans.
The Reds will have to up that initial bid to land their new Lolley, though, according to our colleagues at Teeside Live. Boro reporter Craig Johns responded to a supporter asking about the reports and the future of one of their club's key players.
Johns replied: "Don't know about that mate, but I know it would take a lot more than that for Boro to even consider it. Wilder wasn't expecting to sell any other big names this summer after Spence, though naturally, every player has his price."
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