Cherries could face a battle to keep prize asset Brett Pitman at Dean Court - with interest rumoured to be hotting up in the club’s star striker.

Pitman’s stock rose further when he grabbed the headlines after bagging a clinical hat-trick in Cherries’ 5-1 demolition of Peterborough on Saturday.

The 22-year-old, who netted 28 times to help Cherries clinch promotion last season, instantly proved himself at the next level and soared to the top of the League One goalscorers’ charts.

It has emerged that more than 20 Championship and Premier League clubs sent representatives to Dean Court to watch the free-scoring Channel Islander.

And with the striker having started the season in eye-catching form - and with the transfer window due to close at the end of the month -speculation surrounding Pitman is sure to mount.

Sources close to the Daily Echo suggest Championship clubs Doncaster, Swansea, Watford, Ipswich and QPR are all keen on the Jerseyman.

And Premier League new boys Blackpool – whose interest in Pitman was revealed exclusively by the Daily Echo in January – are also still believed to be tracking him.

However, when contacted by the Daily Echo earlier today, Cherries chairman Eddie Mitchell said the club had not received bids for any of its players.