BOSS Eddie Howe revealed Cherries were on the lookout for new recruits with similar characteristics to those of newly-crowned player of the year Nathan Ake.

The 23-year-old has swept the boards by winning all the annual awards – including the coveted Daily Echo/Micky Cave Trophy, which is voted for by supporters.

Ake has turned in a series of outstanding displays in his first full season at Vitality Stadium following his club-record £20million move from Chelsea.

The Netherlands international has started all but one game in the Premier League, winning a host of man-of-the-match accolades and seven of the club’s nine player-of-the-month awards.

Howe, a two-time winner of the Daily Echo/Micky Cave Trophy, said: “I am very pleased for Nathan and it is well deserved.

“He has been a model of consistency, not just on matchdays, and the biggest compliment I can give him is that it is every day in training as well.

“Whatever he is asked to do, he will give his best. He will commit to training sessions, weights sessions and recovery sessions.

“He does everything to the best of his ability and that is the hallmark of a very good professional.

“He has been a really reliable person to turn to in whatever moment we have been in during the season. He has been very solid and will continue to improve.

“We had a big fight to get him in the summer and it wasn’t easy. I am delighted he has been rewarded by showing loyalty to come back after his loan spell and has had a great season.”

Asked whether he felt £20m had been money well spent, Howe replied: “Players of that quality with the attitude he has are tough to recruit in this day and age.

“We are trying to find similar players with similar characteristics to Nathan. He will only get better and is a great age.

“He has the attitude you want to build a team around. He is a winner and wants to do everything right to progress his career.

“It is almost like he is maximising every day to make sure he doesn’t have any regrets at the end of his career.

“That is all you can ask and all you can want when you are in my position. He fully deserves the award and I am delighted he has had such a good season.

“When you look at what you spend on transfers, it is huge money. But you have to compare it with other players that are available so it is not just the money alone.

“That is the market we are competing in so, when you compare him around his peers and with the other players we could have possibly signed, I think it was very much money well spent.”