CHERRIES boss Lee Bradbury wants to reward Danny Ings for his progress with an improved deal – with a fifth new contract in 12 months on the table.

Bradbury has already opened talks with Ings and his representative as Cherries look to tempt the teenage striker with a deserved pay rise.

Ings, who is currently under contract to Cherries until 2013, could even be in line to join the top earners at the Seward Stadium.

Cherries’ prize asset has attracted the attention of a number of top-flight clubs since bursting on to the scene midway through last season.

Ings, who turns 19 later this month, turned in a series of eye-catching displays, scoring eight times during Cherries’ promotion near miss.

Cherries have already rejected a £400,000 bid from Fulham for Ings, while Celtic, Liverpool and Newcastle are also believed to be tracking him.

A product of the club’s youth set-up, Ings blossomed after being handed his full debut by former boss Eddie Howe at the end of December.

Bradbury told the Daily Echo: “We met with Danny and his agent last week to offer him an improved contract and longer terms. We would like to reward him for his hard work over the past season. He has done superbly for me and for the club.

“We gave him a new contract in February and told him we would rip it up and give him another one if he carried on progressing and showing the promise he was at the time. He has done that and I am a man of my word and have offered him something new.”

Winchester-born Ings, released by Southampton as a schoolboy, has already made his mark during pre-season and has reaped the benefits of working on his fitness over the summer.

Bradbury added: “He is still only a boy and is still growing. He takes the work we do with him very seriously so will progress, not only in football terms, but in stature as well. He has certainly come back looking stronger.

“The way he gets across people and creates chances for himself with his movement has been there for everyone to see. He links play well and has looked really sharp, both in games and in training.”

Ings, meanwhile, took centre stage to help rescue Cherries during last night’s pre-season friendly against Poole Town at Tatnam.

A poor first-half showing from Bradbury’s men saw them reach the break trailing 3-0 to Dan Cann’s opener and a Will Spetch double.

However, sweeping changes at the interval turned the tide within 16 minutes of the restart, with Ings netting Cherries’ second and teeing up Mark Molesley for the equaliser.

Lyle Taylor’s sumptuous left-foot finish had started the comeback before trialist Sofiane Choubani scored with his first touch to make it 4-3 to Cherries late on.

But a see-saw encounter, played out to a crowd of 1,060, ended 4-4 after Scott Joyce fired home eight minutes from time.

Cherries first half: Williams, Baudry, Cummings, Nelson, Strugnell, Robinson, Arter, Pugh, Symes, Parsons, Stockley.

Cherries second half: Williams, Purches, Barrett, Stephenson, Hester, Holder-Spooner (Choubani, 79), Molesley, Gregory, Feeney, Ings (Forbes, 79), Taylor.

Poole: Hutchings, Yelland, Spetch, Dibba, Walker, Sturgess, Price, Hubbard, Jeffes, Preston, Cann.