ASMIR Begovic admitted he had been “flattered” by summer speculation linking him with a move to mainland Europe but said it had not affected his Cherries focus.

The 31-year-old was touted for switches to Napoli and Fenerbahce by the national media.

The Daily Star in June reported both clubs were “waiting to make firm offers” for the Bosnia & Herzegovina international, who joined Cherries in a £10million deal from Chelsea in May 2017.

However, no contact was made with Cherries by either Napoli or Fenerbahce and the Dorset club would not have encouraged such overtures.

Capped 61 times by his country, the goalkeeper was ever-present in the Premier League last season. He even played through the pain barrier after suffering a knee injury in training, his solid displays helping the club secure a 12th-place finish.

Asked by the Daily Echo how he had dealt with being linked to clubs with 21 domestic league titles between them, Begovic said: “At this stage of my career, it comes with the territory. I take those things as a compliment.

“It’s nice to be linked and have people talk about you but, at the same time, it’s just part of being a footballer.

“People will always talk and mention you in these things but it doesn’t take away from my focus and concentration on a daily basis.

“I look at it as a more flattering thing and that’s the best way to look at it. There is a lot of speculation and talk going on all the time but it doesn’t take us away from our daily focus.”

Begovic has not been the only stopper linked with a move abroad this summer.

His former Chelsea team-mate Thibaut Courtois has been heavily tipped for a big-money move to Real Madrid.

Liverpool last month smashed the world-record fee for a goalkeeper by signing Brazilian Alisson from Roma, shelling out a reported £67million to bring the 25-year-old to the Premier League.

Quizzed on keeper valuations, Begovic said: “I think there is a certain market for everyone and the market now dictates that’s the sort of price top goalkeepers are going for.

“We have always been key parts of teams and people understand that but there is just a different market for every position.

“Alisson has set the market at a different level and that will push up everyone else’s price.”

Begovic has played in pre-season fixtures against Sevilla, Levante and Bristol City, as well as Tuesday’s behind-closed-doors clash with Amiens.

He is expected to feature when Cherries host Real Betis tomorrow (7pm) or against Marseille on Saturday (3pm).

“We have had a really good pre-season in terms of calibre of opponents,” added the former Stoke and Portsmouth ace.

“We have tested ourselves and I think these two games will be our biggest tests.

“It’s as close as you are going to get to Premier League action and that’s the way we will look at it.”