EMERSON Hyndman revealed a shared obsession for analysis had helped him decide to join Eddie Howe at Cherries.

The 20-year-old midfielder, linked with the likes of Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan and Celtic before agreeing terms at Vitality Stadium, explained how he had studied the style of his future club before signing.

And the USA international reckons the methods Howe implements – on the pitch and in his preparations – makes Cherries the perfect fit despite the lure of some of European football's most illustrious names.

Hyndman told the Daily Echo: "You have to know where you are going.

"I spoke to the manager about everything but I knew before. When he spoke to me about what he likes to do, I could tell from watching the team play that it was not just talk.

"If it was a team that just sat off and absorbed pressure, it might not be the team for me but this club does not do that. It plays on the front foot and that was a big part in my decision.

"I like videos. I like to study opponents and the team I play for because I want to be prepared for what is coming.

"When I spoke to the manager, he said how important things like that were to him so there was that similarity between us straight away.

"I am very much a guy that likes to figure out teams. As a midfielder, I have to pick out the little holes so any chance I get to watch a 90-minute video, I see it as a chance to learn.

"The way the team played last season was daring but now, it is normal and something to build on.

"Even against the best teams in the league, you don't see Bournemouth change too often. They press and go after you and I think that is very encouraging.

"Normally, we are a hard team to beat and can be very good when everyone is on their game. That was something I wanted to be a part of."

Meanwhile, Hyndman is keen to create an impression and stake his claim for a first-team shirt early on but stopped short of setting any targets for his maiden Premier League campaign.

"I am taking it step by step. Any new player has to earn their minutes on the pitch and I am no different," he added.

"Impressing in pre-season is my goal and I just want to be ready to take that one chance but I don't want to set ridiculous goals.

"I'm not going to start thinking 'I need to start this amount of games', not at all. It is about learning as I go and being ready.

"I don't think I have been anywhere where the training has been this intense. Even the simple passing drills are made very testing.

"You cannot just run and do the basics here. The guys have been great and help you if you're not sure on positioning and things like that."