DEAN Court favourite Paul Morrell reckons fans of fallen giants will have to get used to Cherries picking off their prized assets.

Cherries poached Leeds United’s 19-year-old midfield protege Lewis Cook for an undisclosed fee understood to be around £7million on Friday, prompting a stinging online backlash from the Yorkshire club’s supporters.

Cook became the third permanent signing at Vitality Stadium this summer with Eddie Howe opting for youthful talent so far.

Midfielder Emerson Hyndman and attacking option Lys Mousset, both 20, have been joined by 21-year-old Chelsea loanee Nathan Ake ahead of a second season in the Premier League.

And with Howe able to combine his burgeoning reputation with the clout of Premier League finances, Morrell believes Leeds will not be the last to be left bewildered by their top talent heading to Dorset.

Morrell told the Daily Echo: “Leeds has always been a big club and it has only been in recent years that they have dropped down, mainly due to the finances. They don’t seem to have the resources to get out of the Championship.

"People talk about players going to a small club like Bournemouth but they have to realise things are very different now.

“Our club is punching above its weight with the big boys in the Premier League and they know they have to make these investments in order to stay there.

“It does seem strange. Nowadays, we are talking about £15million players coming in on the kind of weekly wage we spent on transfer fees back when I played.

“It is mindblowing and something I never thought I would see in my lifetime.

“Eddie knows what players he wants to fit the system he plays. He will never change that system no matter what and last season was a great example of that.

“If when they were losing, they would still play out from the back and try to build up play by passing the ball. Those are his ethics and the players he has recruited seem to fit with that.

“Lewis was clearly a player Leeds thought very highly of and they didn’t want to lose him. Everyone expects him to go to the very top and it is encouraging that these players want to come to Bournemouth.

“We are the smallest club in the Premier League and it is a credit to Eddie that they choose us. There is clearly something about the way he deals with these players and his approach to football that entices them.”

But while Morrell sees the benefit of picking up emerging talent, he is keen to see some experienced heads snapped up ahead of the new campaign.

“I think we have recruited very well but personally, I think we need two, maybe three more signings because this season will be even harder,” he added.

“I think Eddie knows what limitations he has with his squad and what he is looking for. They punched above their weight last season but you can’t keep doing that in the Premier League.”