STEVE Cook revealed Cherries’ players had not been bothered by transfer speculation and said it would be “dangerous” to talk about rumours.

Callum Wilson, Nathan Ake, David Brooks and Ryan Fraser – who all featured in Saturday’s 2-0 win over West Ham – have been the subject of reported interest from Premier League rivals in the past 10 days.

Wilson, who has attracted admiring glances from Chelsea as well as rumoured interest from Tottenham and the Hammers, netted a stunning 53rd-minute goal to increase to 12 his tally for the season.

Boss Eddie Howe insisted after the game that Cherries had received no bids for their stars. And club stalwart Cook believes transfer links have to be taken with a pinch of salt.

Cook said: “If we believed every bit of speculation, we wouldn’t have a player here.

“It seems everyone is being linked with places. We have won three games in 15 so we need to keep everyone here, keep everyone wanting to be here and start moving forward.

“No one has really spoken about speculation or transfers. As soon as you have that in the changing room, it becomes dangerous.

“As players, leaders and big characters, we have got to stop that from happening and focus on winning games because we haven’t been able to do that recently.

“I have been here a long time now. I have seen players come and go, as well as being linked with clubs. It’s natural because we have done ever so well.”

Asked how Wilson had been around the squad, Cook replied: “He has been normal. He is a great lad and a great character and it shows in his performances. He is very confident and has ambition like every player in that dressing room.

“Hopefully, we can go on a journey with him. I saw he wants to play in the Champions’ League. Everyone does – is that possible for a lot of us? Maybe not. Hopefully, we can do our best for him and get him as high as possible.

“If Callum keeps scoring, I am sure it’s going to be a tough thing to keep hold of him but I can’t remember the last player we sold that was a big part of the gaffer’s plan. I think that’s all you need to know.

“He is a massive player for us and I’m sure he will be for years to come.”

Cook was part of a Cherries backline which kept a clean sheet for the first time in 2019 and secured a ninth league win of the campaign against West Ham.

“It was huge – we had to win,” he said. “I thought we gave everything and it really showed. It was a really committed performance.

“A clean sheet was lovely as well. We have a 10-day break until the next game and can go into that with a win and a lot of confidence behind us.”