July 18, 2025
Bournemouth v Leicester CityPremier League25/05/2025.

Bournemouth v Leicester City Premier League 25/05/2025. Marcus Tavernier 16 of AFC Bournemouth during the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Leicester City at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, England on 25 May 2025. Bournemouth Vitality Stadium Dorset England Editorial use only DataCo restrictions apply See www.football-dataco.com , Copyright: xGrahamxHuntx PSI-22149-0288

Bournemouth blow as Marcus Tavernier ruled out of Man City visit through  injury | The Independent

 

Bournemouth player linked as West Ham search for Kudus replacement

West Ham Turn to Tavernier as Kudus Replacement Search Begins

Kudus Exit Forces Tactical Reset at West Ham

There are transfers that register quietly, whispers in the marketplace. Then there are exits that echo. Mohammed Kudus departing for Tottenham in a £55 million deal sits firmly in the latter. For West Ham, it is not just the loss of a player but the evaporation of invention, flair and threat in the final third.

Now comes the churn. Football Insider reports that Marcus Tavernier of Bournemouth is among those shortlisted to replace Kudus. The 26-year-old wide playmaker has a valuation of £30 million, a fee that reflects both his Premier League experience and Bournemouth’s upward trajectory under Andoni Iraola. “Tavernier could be that player,” the article suggests, pointing to his missed potential due to injuries last season.

Valuation Highlights Bournemouth’s Leverage

Tavernier arrived from Middlesbrough in 2022 for £15 million and has since been part of a Bournemouth side that punched well above its weight to finish 9th last term. His mixture of athleticism, delivery and positional fluidity makes him a modern wide midfielder. Football Insider outlines that, “Bournemouth have kept hold of fellow winger Antoine Semenyo following strong interest,” hinting at the club’s selective sales policy.

This is a seller’s market. In Tavernier, Bournemouth have a prime-age asset with Premier League pedigree and no urgency to sell. Whether West Ham, under Graham Potter’s new stewardship, wish to pay double what Bournemouth originally paid is a test of ambition and, frankly, desperation.

West Ham’s Search Widens Beyond Tavernier

Alongside Tavernier, the Hammers are keeping tabs on Leicester’s Bilal El Khannouss and Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott. The former, a creative 21-year-old, could be available at a discount following Leicester’s relegation, while Elliott, fresh from impressing at the Under-21 Euros, would demand upwards of £40 million.

Both players represent different philosophies. El Khannouss is promise, potential and patience. Elliott is poise and polish but comes at a premium. Tavernier sits somewhere in between, an experienced head with unfinished business in the Premier League.

Potter’s Puzzle for Post-Kudus Creativity

Graham Potter must now mould a side with a new heartbeat. “Potter not only needs creativity, but a player with an eye for goal amid their reliance on captain Jarrod Bowen,” Football Insider notes. Last season exposed the club’s over-dependence on Bowen’s productivity. Kudus offered unpredictability, vertical running and spontaneous magic. Replacing that is no simple feat.

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