Young star all Boro’s for now

IT’S perhaps inevitable the big clubs will be linked with Boro’s teenage sensation Marcus Tavernier.

But at the same time the storming 18-year-old winger will be going nowhere in the immediate future.

Tavernier’s current professional deal runs out next summer but Boro will almost certainly take full advantage of the one-year automatic extension which is written into his contract.

This will give them plenty of time to open discussions over a longer-lasting deal which will reward the youngster for his achievements in breaking into the first team squad.

Arsenal and Everton are among several clubs who are said to be interested in Tavernier.

In addition to his games for Boro, Marcus put himself under the microscope with Marcus Tavernier his recent England under-19 appearances against the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Bulgaria.

Yet the teenager would have nothing to gain by giving up his place in Boro’s first team squad and heading off for pastures anew where he would have to battle for appearances in the under23s.

In any case both Boro and manager Garry Monk have shown tremendous faith in the Leeds-born player, who was originally on Newcastle United’s books but joined Boro at the age of 14.

In promoting Dael Fry, Lewis Wing and Tavernier this season, Monk has indicated that he is a man who will back the club’s youngsters if he believes they are good enough.

Tavernier has taken his opportunity with both hands. He scored his first senior goal in the Carabao Cup defeat at Bournemouth and then netted the derby winner against Sunderland.

All the signs are that he has a big future ahead of him. First of all he must become an established player, and the best place to achieve that is at the Boro.