FLYING winger Siriki Dembele revealed Cherries had been interested in him since “last year”.

The 25-year-old has impressed having arrived at Vitality Stadium as one of five January deadline day signings last month.

Dembele, who signed from Peterborough United, netted a dramatic late winner in Cherries’ 2-1 victory over Blackpool on Saturday.

But the Ivory Coast-born forward insisted the Dorset club’s curiosity in him had spanned much longer than just the past few weeks.

Asked how long Cherries had been interested, Dembele replied: “Since last year.

“It never happened and I did not hear anything since last year.

“And then two weeks before the transfer deadline last month, I heard something could be happening.

“Then two to three days before the transfer deadline, I think that's when things actually started to happen.”

Dembele had played 147 games for Posh in total, having joined them from Grimsby in June 2018.

His last game for his previous employers came against West Brom on January 22.

Asked whether it had been difficult to concentrate amid the interest in him, Dembele replied: “I wouldn't say it was hard to concentrate, because as soon as I step on the pitch, all I think about is playing football, and everything else outside of that is when you step off the pitch.

“It wasn't difficult because I hadn't moved in previous windows, so I think I've managed to forget about everything! And just concentrate.

“Whatever happens, happens. That's just how life is.”

Dembele will hope to be part of Scott Parker’s starting XI when Cherries take on Nottingham Forest on Friday.