Marcus Tavernier

Key strength: Vision and passing

Creative playmaker

In a Premier League campaign where AFC Bournemouth have perfected the art of the deadlock, Marcus Tavernier stands as their creative salvation. The Cherries occupy an impressive 6th place, yet they've drawn five of their last six matches—an exercise in frustration despite their upward trajectory. At the heart of this paradox stands the 27-year-old English attacking midfielder, a €25 million creative force whose numbers tell only part of the story: 6 goals and 4 assists across 27 appearances this season, accumulated over 2,089 minutes of Premier League football. Tavernier operates as the invisible thread connecting Bournemouth's ambitions to reality. With a passing rating of 70—his standout attribute—he navigates the congested half-spaces between opposition midfield and defense, supplying ammunition to striker Evanilson and combining with midfield partners like Alex Scott. His creative compass has become indispensable to Andoni Iraola's system. Once overshadowed by older brother James during their formative years, Marcus has carved his own identity at Dean Court, transforming from promising talent to irreplaceable number 16. In a side crying out for cutting edge to convert those maddening draws into victories, Tavernier's imaginative spark remains Bournemouth's most reliable route forward—and their best hope of transforming mid-table respectability into something far more ambitious.