BOSS Scott Parker urged star frontman Dominic Solanke - as well as the rest of Cherries’ squad - to keep their laser focus amid transfer speculation surfacing throughout January.

Sky Sports this week claimed 24-year-old Solanke was of interest to Premier League Newcastle, along with four other strikers based across the globe.

The Magpies on Thursday announced the signing of Chris Wood from Burnley.

But Parker insisted he was not shocked about in-form Solanke, who is enjoying his most prolific scoring season at senior level, being linked with a move elsewhere.

Asked about the reported links regarding the Cherries striker, the head coach told the Daily Echo: “Look, I am not surprised.

“I am not surprised that Dom Solanke is going to be linked. I am not surprised that some of my other players will be linked with Premier League clubs. Why? Because they are good players. They are showing that.

“That doesn’t surprise me and I am not affected by that really at all.

“This is part and parcel of the world we live in. In January for one month, loads of names will get put out there about who is signing who.

“Then in the summer, the same. This is part of your job, this is what happens.

“What is key is these players remain focused. They remain focused and understand what has got them to this point.

“What has got Dom Solanke to this point has been an incredible work-ethic, an incredible laser-ness about him, like I keep saying.

“He is a very relentless boy that understands what he needs to do to perform and he needs to stay there – that’s the levels he needs to stay at.

“I don’t suspect any different really.

“I expect that January will come and there will be more names chucked out there, more clubs. This is just it, this is just what happens.”

After signing from Liverpool in January 2019, England international Solanke has gone on to play 117 times for the Dorset outfit in all competitions, scoring 38 goals.

Solanke has 19 goals in 26 games under Parker this campaign.

Having not featured against Yeovil Town in the FA Cup last weekend, Solanke is expected to return to Cherries’ squad for their Championship battle at Luton Town tomorrow (12.30pm).