CHERRIES' wing wizard Siriki Dembele feels he is destined to become teammates with his younger brother Karamoko, insisting: "I think that will happen one day."

Siriki signed for Cherries from Peterborough United on transfer deadline day in January, for a reported fee of around £1.5million, penning a contract until the summer of 2025.

And the 25-year-old instantly showed his potential, scoring the dramatic winner at Blackpool on his first start for the club.

The diminutive wide-man netted again in April, bagging what proved to be the winning goal with a superb solo dribbling effort against Bristol City at Vitality Stadium.

Speaking after that goal against the Robins, boss Scott Parker said: “I think it’s fair to say that Dembs has probably found it a little bit difficult since coming in.

“Because it’s probably a different environment than he is used to – different culture in terms of what I expect of him.

“It’s always difficult coming in in January, as well.

“The last 10 days or two weeks, I have seen a real change in him in terms of wanting to improve and wanting to understand and learn what he needs to do.

“He’s kept jumping out on me to say ‘look, I’m on board here – give me an opportunity’.

“We all understand his quality. He is a one-v-one specialist."

Bournemouth Echo:

Siriki comes from a sporting family, with his brothers also making their way in football.

Karamoko, 19, currently plies his trade with Scottish giants Celtic, although his current contract is coming to an end this summer.

He first caught the eye when called up to play for Celtic's under-20s, aged just 13, before signing his first professional contract with the club in December 2018.

Karamoko Dembele, who has represented both Scotland and England at youth level, has played nine times for Celtic's first team, but has struggled to make an impact this season, down in part to injury.

His only goal to date for the Bhoys came in a 4-0 win over St Johnstone in May 2021.

Discussing his footballing family, Siriki Dembele told the Daily Echo: "My sister (Macoula) didn’t play football, but my brother plays. Both my brothers play. The other one (Hassan) is 12 years old, he plays as well."

Both Rangers and Celtic were linked with a move for Siriki prior to him joining Cherries in January.

Asked how much he knew of that and the potential to become a teammate of Karamoko, Siriki said: "I don’t know about that happening or anything.

"But playing alongside my brother, I think that will happen one day. It would be nice, it would be very good.

"But when that time comes, I think it will happen.

"But for me, right now, the most important thing was to get myself here (Cherries), because I think it was the best option for me."

The footballing links do not stop there, with Siriki's father also friends with the father of global stars Yaya and Kolo Toure, from his Ivorian heritage.

"I just know he was in the Army and obviously Kolo and Yaya Toure’s dad was in the Army as well," explained Siriki.

"That’s how they knew each other."

Asked what role his dad played in the Army, Siriki admitted: "If I’m honest with you, I need to ask him again!"