EDDIE Howe says Ryan Fraser is "keeping his options open" over whether or not to sign a new contract at Cherries.

The Scot's current deal runs out at the end of the 2019-20 season.

And Howe says the ball is in Fraser's court on potentially extending his near seven-year stay at Vitality Stadium.

"In terms of his contract, that’s obviously for him to decide what he wants to do with his future," said Howe.

"We would love him to stay and commit to us. But if not, we need to get the best out of him between now and the end of the season.

"We’ve had conversations with Ryan to try and persuade him to stay, but at the moment, he’s keeping his options open on that one."

During an interview with the Daily Echo earlier this month, Fraser admitted seeing close friends like Marc Pugh depart Cherries over the years had been "hard to take".

But Howe insisted the 25-year-old still retains close bonds with many of his team-mates.

The Cherries boss said: "He’s got some really good friends in the squad, as he mentioned in the interview, Dan Gosling, Nathan Ake, he’s very close with those guys, always socialising in and around them.

"I think Ryan’s just very honest when he speaks and probably he’s given the impression that he’s lonely, but I can guarantee you he’s not."