Newcastle United will reportedly consider raiding Eddie Howe's former side Bournemouth for three of their star players in the summer transfer window.
The Magpies were relatively quiet across the last two transfer windows, with their need to comply with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules one of the key factors behind this.
Howe will hope that there is money to spend in the summer, though, and their pool of potential targets could widen if they manage to secure Champions League football next season.
Newcastle currently sit fifth in the Premier League table and are level on points with fourth-placed Manchester City, as well as three points behind third-placed Nottingham Forest - who they beat 4-3 last weekend - with 12 games remaining.
The Magpies' focus is indeed on securing a top-four finish and winning their first major trophy for 70 years, with an EFL Cup final against Liverpool to look forward to next month, but the club's hierarchy will be working hard behind the scenes to identify players who could strengthen Howe's squad for next season.
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Newcastle keen to reunite with Tavernier?
One of those is said to be Bournemouth's Marcus Tavernier, as ChronicleLive reports that Newcastle are keeping tabs on the 25-year-old winger.
The report adds that Bournemouth chiefs are aware of the Magpies' interest in a clutch of their stars including Tavernier, who spent time in Newcastle's academy before joining Middlesbrough at Under-14s level.
Tavernier, the younger brother of ex-Newcastle defender and Rangers captain James Tavernier, is said to be rated at around £20m by Bournemouth and has also attracted the interest of Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion.
The versatile winger still has over three years remaining on his contract at the Vitality Stadium, where he has recorded 11 goals and 13 assists in 79 appearances since joining the Cherries in 2022, chipping in with two goals and five assists in 19 Premier League outings this term.
Another 25-year-old Bournemouth attacker said to be on Newcastle's radar is Antoine Semenyo, who in the report from ChronicleLive is said to be valued at just £27m, although the Cherries will presumably demand a much higher figure from interested suitors.
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Semenyo, Huijsen also on Newcastle's radar
Semenyo has been one of Bournemouth's standout performers in the Premier League this season, scoring seven goals and providing four assists in 25 games to help Andoni Iraola's side climb into the top six and challenge for the European places.
The versatile Ghana international has primarily operated on the left flank for Bournemouth, but he is also comfortable playing as a right-winger - a position that Newcastle are keen to reinforce this summer - and as a central striker.
Meanwhile, Newcastle are also said to be one of several clubs interested in signing Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen, who has established himself as an important first-team player under Iraola over the last few months.
The 6ft 5in 19-year-old only joined Bournemouth from Juventus from £12.8m last summer, but he is understood to possess a £50m release clause in his contract which has alerted the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea.
Oliver Thomas
