CHERRIES have reportedly taken pole position in the race for Marcus Tavernier.

Football Insider claim that the Dorset club are now in advanced talks with Middlesbrough over signing the midfielder.

Nottingham Forest have also bid for the £10 million-rated Tavernier, with Football Insider stating that both Forest and Cherries have had bids rejected over the course of the summer.

Since coming up through the youth ranks at the Riverside, Tavernier has made 155 appearances for Boro, scoring 18 goals and contributing 18 assists since his debut in August 2017.

Boro have already sold one academy product this window, with wing-back Djed Spence sold to Tottenham Hotspur for a reported £20m.

The Daily Echo understands Cherries lodged a bid earlier this week. The 23-year-old’s contract with Middlesbrough supposedly expires at the end of the 2022-23 campaign, meaning that the Teesside club may be tempted to cash in this summer.

Fellow promoted side Nottingham Forest have already signed 10 first-team players this window for a rumoured total spend in the region of £70m.

In comparison, Cherries have added two new players this summer, signing midfielder Joe Rothwell and defender Ryan Fredericks on free transfers following their departures from Blackburn Rovers and West Ham respectively.