JAMES Hill admits he did "hear the talk" about potential interest from Barcelona last year, but added: "I just literally concentrated on the football side of things."

Hot prospect Hill was linked with a variety of clubs, prior to Cherries swooping to sign him from Fleetwood Town for around £1million in January.

A report by the Daily Mail claimed a scout from Spanish giants Barcelona made a surprise visit to watch Hill during a League One clash with Burton Albion in October.

The 20-year-old, son of former Premier League and EFL defender Matt Hill, was also linked with the likes of Southampton and Sheffield United, before signing for Cherries.

Hill is currently away on international duty with England under-20s and could face Germany in the Elite League at Colchester tomorrow.

Discussing the reported links to Barcelona earlier this season, Hill told the Daily Echo: "Obviously you hear the talk, but from a player’s point of view and my point of view, I just literally concentrated on the football side of things and left that to the other people who deal with that situation.

"For the interests of me, it was just play the games that I’ve got in hand and concentrate on training and leave the outside to do all the talking.

"Literally if I just carried on doing what I was doing, then the rest should take care of itself."

On his decision to join Cherries, Hill added: "I knew they were interested but there's been a lot of talk and I didn't realise how interested they were until the actual deal was done and the bid was put in.

"So it was only till then it actually came to light that it was a really interesting team and for me, a no brainer to come."

Hill has made two first-team appearances for Cherries, but has struggled to make the matchday squad in recent weeks, instead getting game-time with the development squad.

Discussing his development, boss Scott Parker said: "His attitude and demeanour around the place has been superb. This is a young player that we have real high hopes for.

"At the moment, just want him to settle into things, keep improving.

"Over the coming weeks we’ll start ramping things up even more for him. But like any young player coming into a new club, a new environment, the most important thing is for them to settle and be comfortable, not chuck anything at them which maybe takes them off stride.

"That’s not to say that James is that type, because he seems a very level boy and a committed boy as well.

"But he’s got a big future here and we think the world of him."