GOALKEEPER Asmir Begovic believes Cherries “cannot afford to stand still” in their quest to establish themselves in the “relentless” Premier League.

The Bosnia & Herzegovina international played every top-flight minute last season having sealed a £10million move to the Dorset club from Chelsea in May 2017.

Cherries finished 12th to earn a fourth campaign competing at England’s elite level.

With this season’s opener against Cardiff at Vitality Stadium on Saturday, August 11 (3pm), 31-year-old Begovic insisted the Dorset club must continue to evolve.

He told the Daily Star: “The Premier League is relentless and the most competitive in the world. Everyone always strives to get better and seems to do so every year.

“As a club, Bournemouth cannot afford to stand still. This season staying in the league has to be our goal initially and I’m sure it’s the same for most teams.

“We can’t take anything for granted. That’s why we’ll work hard to be at the levels needed to ensure we stay in this league.”

Formerly of Stoke and Portsmouth, Begovic has made 228 Premier League appearances throughout his career, keeping 56 clean sheets.

He has featured in both of Cherries’ pre-season friendlies against Sevilla and Levante.