EDDIE Howe has revealed he is targeting a maximum of three more new recruits but insists he is only in the market for “elite players who can make a difference”.

Cherries boss Howe continued his squad strengthening when he returned to former club Burnley to sign winger Junior Stanislas on a free transfer earlier this week.

The 24-year-old, who penned a three-year deal, became Cherries’ second summer signing, following the arrival of Dan Gosling – also on a free – from Newcastle.

Midfielder Gosling was at Dean Court yesterday to put the finishing touches to his move and signed a four-year contract after successfully passing a medical.

Howe has been linked with a host of players during the past few weeks with Cherries reported to have bid for highly-rated Coventry City striker Callum Wilson.

And while Howe never comments publicly on his targets, a replacement for last season’s leading goalscorer Lewis Grabban, who joined Norwich for £3million earlier this month, is thought to be a priority.

Howe told the Daily Echo: “We are looking and have irons in the fire. We have been speaking to representatives of the players we like and are working hard to secure more targets.

“But it is very difficult when you are talking about good players. We had to fight off big competition for both Dan and Junior and that will be the case with the players we are looking to get in now.

“We are really happy with the two we have brought in and I think they will definitely add to the current squad and increase the quality. That is what we will be looking to do with the remaining ones we bring in but it won’t be huge numbers. It will be two, maybe a maximum of three, more.”

Howe added: “You are looking at the elite players who can really make a difference. We finished 10th in the Championship last season and want to improve on that. But you are looking at such a small pool of players who could make the squad better.

“It is incredibly difficult with the financial (fair play) restrictions and with the competition we have from much bigger clubs than ourselves.

“As I say every season, I certainly back the players we have already and once we start working with them and see more improvements in them then who knows how far we could go?

“It has never been my style to rush or panic and to just sign players for the sake of it. You have to have a role for them in your team and you have to see where they will fit into your squad. More importantly, they have to fit your philosophy and, when you play like we do, you are looking at technically-gifted players but they come at a premium so we will wait and see.”