CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe admits enticing players to Vitality Stadium is a "hard selling job" given the stature of their direct rivals in the transfer market.

Howe said he was not expecting to make any major moves when the window opened for business, adding there were "a couple of things we will look to do".

And with Cherries not boasting the heritage or glamour of a host of their top-flight counterparts, Howe will use his team's lofty league position as leverage in his negotiations with potential recruits.

Howe told the Daily Echo: "Naturally, when you’re doing well in your league, it’s easier to attract players.

"Especially when you’re us because we don’t have the name, the history, or the facilities to speak for themselves.

"We have to do a hard selling job on the players, in terms of what we can offer them so, if we’re winning games, doing well and playing a good style of football, it’s certainly easier."

While he will utilise his team's stellar form as a tool to twist the arm of his transfer targets, Howe insisted he would not dream of using the same tactic to persuade his bosses to release funds.

He said: "It’s not like that. You’re not using things as a bargaining tool to say 'I want this, that and the other'.

"I’m very aware of the squad I have and I’m very aware of the market as well.

"So when we decide where we take the team next in terms of the players we recruit and the money we spend, I’m as sensible as hopefully the board will be and I treat it as my money.

"I never go to them and say ‘I want this player’. We don’t act like that as a club.

"We identify the position and then we try to work together to find the best player."

After strengthening significantly during the summer, Howe claims he is not approaching the January window with a view to carrying out major surgery to his squad.

"We’ve given January some thought," he continued. "I don’t think it will be a huge window for us this season.

"But you never know in football, we could get a couple of injuries and then things would change.

"But I’m very happy with the squad as it is. Providing we don’t have any major setbacks in the next few weeks, I don’t anticipate it being a really busy month for us."

Howe also took the opportunity to reiterate his stance on the future of Callum Wilson.

The striker, Cherries' leading scorer with five Premier League strikes this term, reportedly has a host of suitors, Newcastle United, West Ham and Everton, among them,

"If we did receive any bid then, obviously, we would look at it," said Howe. "But as far as I’m concerned, we wouldn’t want to sell any player who is a key part of our long-term plans.

"Providing the players are happy, which I think they are, then we will be keeping the squad intact."