BOURNEMOUTH are ready to make a move for Marcus Tavernier, with Scott Parker hoping to prise the Middlesbrough midfielder from the Riverside for a knockdown fee.

Parker has spent the last couple of weeks planning for the Cherries’ return to the Premier League following last season’s promotion, with Tavernier regarded as an attractive long-term proposition.

The 23-year-old has been one of Boro’s key performers for the last couple of years, making 48 appearances in all competitions last season and scoring five goals.

Chris Wilder regards Tavernier as an integral part of his future plans, and while Boro recently triggered a clause in the midfielder's contract to add another 12 months to his existing arrangement, his current deal on Teesside is due to expire in the summer of 2024.

The Boro hierarchy will have a decision to make if Bournemouth firm up their current interest with a formal bid.

On the one hand, Wilder would be extremely reluctant to lose Tavernier as his midfield creativity would be extremely difficult to replace, and Boro chiefs would be keen to hold on to the academy product, having put a lot of time and resources into his development.

However, there would also be an understandable reluctance to get into a situation where Tavernier could be heading into the final year of his contract next summer with his long-term future still somewhat uncertain.

Ideally, the Teessiders would like to tie the midfielder down to a new deal before he begins approaching the final 12 months of his current contract, but if that proves impossible, they may opt to consider offers for his services while his value is at its peak.

Sources on the south coast claim Bournemouth are set to begin their bidding at around £10m, some of which would be dependent on a series of add-on clauses being met, and it is hard to imagine Boro agreeing to such a deal.

Nevertheless, the Cherries may regard their initial valuation as a starting point for further discussions, with their financial position having been greatly improved by last season’s promotion.

Boro do not need to sell Tavernier to raise funds as their own financial situation will be transformed by the anticipated sale of Djed Spence this summer.

While the Teessiders are still to receive an offer from Tottenham for the full-back, there is an expectation that a bid will be tabled in the next few weeks.

Boro are adamant they will not be backed into a corner over Spence, with Spurs fully aware that Nottingham Forest appear to shelved their own interest in their former loanee, but it remains likely that a deal will be agreed at some stage before the start of next season.

Spence is valued at around £20m, meaning that if he is sold, Boro will be able to make a number of additions of their own and still remain within the parameters laid out by the Football League’s Financial Fair Play regulations.

There will be further departures this summer, with Martin Payero being lined up for a possible return to South America.

Payero’s former club, Banfield, have confirmed their interest in re-signing the midfielder, who failed to establish himself in Boro’s first team last season, while the Argentinian media have also suggested that River Plate and Boca Juniors are both interested in a loan deal. River Plate are reportedly lining up Payero as a replacement for Nicolas de la Cruz, who is expected to move to La Liga this summer.

Sol Brynn is also set to leave Boro on loan, with League Two side Swindon Town having agreed a deal for his signature.

Brynn spent part of last season on loan at Scottish side Queen of the South, and is not part of Wilder’s plans for next term even though Joe Lumley and Dejan Stojanovic have both moved on in the last few weeks.