ARNAUT Danjuma revealed he would have considered staying at Cherries this summer, had the club achieved promotion back to the Premier League.

The Dutchman dazzled in the Championship under both Jason Tindall and Jonathan Woodgate, ending the campaign as Cherries' top scorer with 17 goals in 37 appearances.

That included netting in both legs of the play-off semi-final against Brentford, which ultimately ended in disappointment, the Bees progressing 3-2 on aggregate.

It was then Danjuma knew he wanted to leave, and his departure was confirmed when Villarreal met the 25million Euro asking price in mid-August.

"'There was concrete interest from the Premier League," said Danjuma in an interview with MailOnline.

"I can’t reveal who, but I made a clear choice of going to Villarreal. Once the Europa League winners are interested in you, you need to respect the interest.

"I'm a fairly intuitive person, so the moment (head coach) Unai (Emery) started speaking to me it just felt close to home, it felt natural, it felt good, it felt a logical next step in my career. Playing in the Championship for another season, I couldn't do it.

"Maybe if we went up at Bournemouth, we could have had a different conversation. But I'm just very eager, very determined to put myself on the highest platform possible."

Danjuma is set to take centre stage this evening in the Champions League, when Emery's men head to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.

Asked if he would like to return to the Premier League one day, the 24-year-old added: "I aim for the highest possible (accolades) in my career and play the highest platform of football.

"If that means the Champions League, I want to prove myself, if that means the Premier League then that will be the Premier League.

"I came to Villarreal to prove myself again but I'm definitely visualising the next step."

Danjuma never played under Cherries' new boss Scott Parker, following his arrival over the summer to replace the outgoing Woodgate.

Asked if he always got a strong sense the Holland international was eager to leave Cherries, Parker told the Daily Echo: "He was keen to move on. Ambitious, felt he played his year of football in the Championship last year and felt that he wanted to go and progress and go up.

"I understood that and respected that and while I was here with Arnie in a short space of time, he didn't cause me a day's problem, very respectful. I wish him nothing but the very best.

"A very good player. I didn't see a lot of him. I saw only short bits in training, but what I saw of him last year and saw in a short space here, a very, very good football player and we wish him all the best."