Eddie’s on Ake alert

EDDIE HOWE has issued a hands-off warning to Tottenham and Manchester United over Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake.

As Starsport revealed earlier this month, both United boss Jose Mourinho and Spurs counterpart Mauricio Pochettino are keen to snap up the £40m-rated Ake.

But Cherries chief Howe (below)

said: “That is a compliment to Nathan and how he has played since signing for us permanently.

“He’s been the model of consistency and picked up all our awards at the end of last season. He has carried that form into the start of this season.

“With any kind of speculation when you are linked with the type of clubs he has been, that is a good sign.

“That doesn’t mean we are about to lose him – he is a massive part of what we are doing.

“It is inevitable that when the team is doing well people will highlight our players.

“I look at it as a compliment for the team but it certainly won’t disrupt Nathan, knowing how levelheaded he is.” Bournemouth take on neighbours Southampton today looking to heap more pressure on their struggling south coast rivals.

But Howe insists taking three points to maintain the Cherries’ best-ever start to a Premier League season is more important than winning the local bragging rights. He said: “The thing that motivates me is to try and win, regardless of who we play against.

“The rivalry has grown from where it was a few years ago when we had not been at this level before.

“It has the scope to get bigger but that will be determined on both teams fighting at this level, competing for points. “We would love to win but we respect Southampton a lot. We know they are a great club with outstanding players and an outstanding manager. “We do not underestimate them. Football can change very quickly, so we have to get the basics right.”