EDDIE Howe wants to take his squad to “new levels” and believes the starting point for Cherries players is as high as it has ever been.

Howe admits he is “really excited” with the class of 2016 and has drafted in some quality arrivals to add to a talented existing group at Vitality Stadium.

The club’s five summer signings – Nathan Ake, Emerson Hyndman, Lys Mousset, Lewis Cook and Jordon Ibe – are all 22 or under and are set to be joined by 22-year-old Brad Smith from Liverpool.

And while preserving their Premier League status will again be the main priority, improving on last season’s 16th-placed finish will also be a target.

Howe said: “I am really excited with the group we have. It is young, dynamic and different. I think there is a lot of potential there to get better.

“That is what we have always done traditionally. We have tried to bring in young talent and mould and work with them to make them better.

“That is no different, it is just the starting point at this level is probably the highest it has been in an AFC Bournemouth squad. It is a really talented squad and now we have got to get results to prove it.

“We have sold a couple of key players but have replaced them, hopefully, with players of huge potential. The beauty of it from my perspective is to work with such young players and try to get the best out of them."

Howe is also looking forward to starting the season with the likes of Callum Wilson, Max Gradel and Harry Arter being available following injury-ravaged campaigns.

“It feels like we’ve got several new signings,” added the Cherries boss. “Tyrone Mings and Adam Smith are hopefully not too far away either so we will have an array of options when everyone is fit. That is going to be really nice for me.

“We hope Callum can start the season like he did last season but we have other good strikers as well so the competition is going to be red hot up there.”

Asked whether he hoped to coach Jordon Ibe – who hit his first goal for the club at Portsmouth on Saturday – into the England reckoning, Howe replied: “Hopefully, that has to be his aim.

“Certainly my aim is to take all these boys to new levels and if that means the national team then so be it. But my only concern is getting them playing to their full potential for AFC Bournemouth.”

And discussing fellow new recruit Lys Mousset, Howe said: “He is an exciting player and a lovely lad. He wants to achieve success and be successful which is important when you sign a player.

“He’s got the raw ingredients – he’s strong, powerful and he knows where the goal is. He has a ferocious shot on him from anywhere.

“He certainly needs to know how we play and that will take a little bit of time but I think the future looks very bright for him.”