Exciting Eddie Howe claims on summer signings and sales - His strongest message yet?

When Eddie Howe talks transfers, he rarely gives much away and is very diplomatic.

Of course, he rarely discusses names out of respect for other clubs, but this morning he has gone into depth when discussing a few transfer topics.

Quizzed on the constant rumours around potential outgoings, our PSR position and plans to strengthen in what is being billed as our biggest summer since the takeover, Howe's message was strong, clear and quite exciting.

Howe expects signings, not sales!

Eddie Howe insists the club's much-improved PSR position should allow us to focus on strengthening the squad this summer - not weakening it.

Our lack of major first team signings over the past few windows is well documented, with last summer featuring the sale of two top talents, no new right winger and a drawn out pursuit of Marc Guehi that ended in frustration.

Almost 12 months later, Howe can't see "any reason" why we can't strengthen this time around, and has spoken bullishly on our plans to build around our star players and show ambition, not sell them!

Speaking to the media on Friday morning, Howe said: "Regular success, consistent success, all these things help you in the journey that you're on to show to everybody that that's where the club's ambition is. There's no doubt that's what the club's ambition is.

"But of course, as we've said many times, the ability financially to compete the last few years has been hampered by PSR, but those issues aren't there for the coming window. So I don't see any reason why we can't strengthen, not weaken ourselves."

Howe baffled by constant exit talk

Howe also issued a strong message on constant rumours linking some of our key men with potential moves away.

The boss "doesn't see why" our players would want to leave and can't understand certain rumours while we push to compete at the top end of the Premier League, although some will see it as a compliment that some of our 'big six' rivals want the likes of Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and Tino Livramento to name a few.

"I'm not absorbed in the transfer rumours," Howe said. "I don't go on websites and flick through them and see what's happening this week.

"But obviously it gets back. And it is a frustration because I don't see why our players are getting linked here, there and everywhere with other clubs. I'd like to think the players are happy here. I'd like to think again that they're seeing us grow and develop into a team that hopefully can compete at the top end of the division.

"We have no divine right to do that, but I think we're going in the right direction. So, yeah, it's a source of frustration, but I don't let it absorb me, really."

Hopefully Howe's viewpoint is shared at ownership level and in the boardroom, with an ambitious summer required to recruit quality signings, improve our squad depth, keep our star players and keep this project moving forwards as we hope for a return to the Champions League next season.