CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe was today expected to win the race to sign coveted duo Ryan Fraser and Ryan Allsop.

Fraser and Allsop’s proposed deals would come hot on the heels of Southampton defender Dan Seaborne yesterday signing on loan until the end of the season.

Highly-rated teenage winger Fraser and sought-after goalkeeper Allsop are both understood to be close to finalising moves to Dean Court.

It is believed the pair have already agreed terms on three-and-a-half year contracts, with the deals set to be rubber-stamped once both players have completed medicals.

Fraser, who is one of the hottest properties north of the border, is poised to join Cherries after the Dorset club agreed an initial fee of £300,000 with Scottish Premier League outfit Aberdeen.

Cherries are understood to have fended off interest from several higher-level clubs, including Huddersfield and Swansea, to land the 18-year-old Scotsman, who recently turned down a new deal at Pittodrie in favour of a switch to England.

Fraser, who has earned rave reviews in Scotland despite having only made 23 appearances for the Dons, has been capped at under-19 level by his country and was among the crowd for Cherries’ FA Cup clash against Wigan on Tuesday.

Cherries have snapped up goalkeeper Allsop from under the noses of a host of Championship clubs, the 20-year-old on the verge of joining the club on a free transfer.

The former West Brom and Millwall stopper left Cherries’ League One rivals Leyton Orient on Wednesday following the expiry of a six-month contract at the club.

Birmingham-born Allsop, capped five times for England under-17s, had been first-choice at Brisbane Road until he fell out of favour after turning down no fewer than three contract offers from the club.