Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe: "We're not a selling club"

Eddie Howe has insisted that Bournemouth are "not a selling club", amid speculation that has linked winger Matt Ritchie with a move to Manchester United.

A recent report claimed that United boss Louis van Gaal had instructed his scouting team at Old Trafford to monitor the 26-year-old's progress, with a January bid mooted.

However, despite having conceded that he is not surprised to learn of the supposed interest that has been shown in the Scotland international, Howe has stressed that the club are determined to keep him at Dean Court.

"Matty is a good player so it's not a surprise to me he's linked to the top clubs," the Bournemouth boss told Sky Sports News.

"Matt Ritchie on form and playing well is a threat to anybody. Whenever any of our players gets linked, it's not welcome by us.

"We're not a selling club and we certainly want to keep the squad together if we can in January and not the other way."

Ritchie, who scored 15 goals for the Cherries in the Championship last term, has found the net on two occasions so far this season.