Exclusive: Newcastle now tracking £10m Premier League star who left their academy back in 2013

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• EXCLUSIVE with Graeme Bailey

Newcastle have previously hosted a number of top talents in their academy.

The Magpies had the likes of Paul Gascoigne, Andy Carroll and Peter Beardsley emerge from their youth ranks in years gone by – although few were produced during the Mike Ashley era as youngsters were barely handed any opportunities.

Even now – with Newcastle sitting ninth in the Premier League under Eddie Howe – academy graduates have been few and far between, with only Lewis Miley emerging.

While Ashley was at the helm, a then 14-year-old Marcus Tavernier was released, a player who is now shining in the Premier League with Bournemouth.

As a result, sources have informed TBR Football that Newcastle hold an interest in bringing the Bournemouth No.16 back to Tyneside.

Newcastle monitoring Marcus Tavernier

TBR Football understand Newcastle are admirers of two Bournemouth players – with Antoine Semenyo also being tracked by the Magpies along with Tavernier.

The pair have been in superb form so far in the 2024/25 campaign, helping the Cherries sit 13th in the Premier League – having earned impressive victories over Arsenal and Manchester City.

TBR Football have been told Tottenham also like Semenyo – who is a Ghana international.

Semenyo boasts four goals and one assist in 12 Premier League appearances this season, while Tavernier – whose brother James was sold by Newcastle to Rangers in a £90,000 deal – has one goal and two assists in the same amount of games.

Bournemouth sources have stressed to TBR Football that they have no intention of letting any key men leave in the January transfer window, as the Cherries feel they could qualify for Europe this season, while Newcastle themselves are also doubtful about a January move happening for either Tavernier or Semenyo.

What Marcus Tavernier has previously said about Newcastle

As aforesaid, Newcastle released Tavernier – who Bournemouth signed from Middlesbrough for £10m in August 2022 – and he was asked about the Magpies amid his rise to stardom in the Premier League.

As quoted by the Shields Gazette, the 25-year-old said: “I grew up in Newcastle, I lived there when I was at Middlesbrough, so I know a lot about the town and the club and all the things to do with it.

When asked if he had been urged to “get one over” on the Magpies after they released him, Tavernier – who Newcastle wanted in 2022 – said: “Yeah definitely, but most my friends are Newcastle fans so it’s a bit of both at the moment.”

Will those same friends now be encouraging him to join Newcastle? Only time will tell, but Howe is certainly keen on bringing the Leeds-born midfielder back.