Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has admitted that he "likes" the media speculating about his and his players' futures.

The 37-year-old is four wins away from winning the Championship and sealing automatic promotion to the Premier League with the Cherries.

During the team's surge up the table this season, Howe has been touted as a possible replacement for Sam Allardyce, whose future at West Ham United has come under question.

Players among Howe's squad, including Callum Wilson, have also been linked with moves away from the Goldsands Stadium throughout the campaign, but the manager believes that if the rumours don't exist, then they're doing something wrong.

"I like that kind of speculation," Howe told Sports Mole. "I like that kind of speculation for my players because it means that you're doing what you're paid to do, what you need to do.

"So, the fact that we've had a lot of our international players get call-ups, our players have been linked to other clubs - for me, it's a compliment, and I don't want that to stop because then that obviously means that they're not performing to the level that we expect them to."

Bournemouth currently top the standings by one point, while Norwich City and Watford reside second and third respectively, and Middlesbrough sit two points behind the lead.

The Cherries will take on Reading at the Madejski Stadium tomorrow evening.