CHERRIES striker Joshua King revealed plans to remain at Vitality Stadium next season – in the wake of reported interest from big-hitters Tottenham.

King enjoyed his best return in a campaign with 16 goals last term, including five in his final seven appearances, as he helped Cherries record a ninth-place finish in the Premier League.

The Norway international's fine form prompted speculation that Spurs wished to recruit the frontman, with free-spending Everton now rated by the bookies as the leading contenders to swoop for King.

Asked he had noticed rumours of Spurs' interest, King told the Daily Echo: "I was focusing on the season and finishing it strongly.

"But I would be a liar if I said I hadn't noticed it. It was in most papers in England and you have got people tagging you and sending you links here and there.

"I was intrigued even being mentioned in the same sentence as Spurs, a big team who play in the Champions League.

"It is the summer holiday now and I've learned so much from the gaffer here.

"You never know in football but, hopefully, I will be here next year and I'm looking forward to working with the gaffer because he's been brilliant with me since the day I set foot on the training ground."

King, who penned a four-year contract last summer, was signed from Blackburn for a bargain £1million in the summer of 2015.

And the former Manchester United youngster believes his positional shift and improved fitness and hunger have contributed to his recent exploits for Cherries.

He said: "I'm a different player (from the one who signed from Blackburn) in that I'm fitter and have maybe got my hunger back.

"The gaffer bought me for a reason – he saw the potential and talent I had.

"At Blackburn, I was playing out of position, as I was when I came here as well, but now I've got a position I'm used to playing and the position I want to play.

"I'm closer to goal and am causing more more troubling for defenders, alongside whoever I have been playing with. We have great strikers at the club."

Reflecting generally on Cherries' ninth-place effort, the club's highest finish in the English football ladder, the 25-year-old revealed his immense pride at playing his part.

He added: "I'm very proud to say I played in a team which finished ninth in the Prem. If you look at the teams who finished above us, most of them were fighting for the top four.

"I think the team was brilliant. We managed to come back after we struggled for form. I think we progressed from last season and, hopefully, next season we can progress even more.

"I want to help this team climb higher and want to improve my goals and assists, and try to better myself next season."