EDDIE Howe has confirmed his interest in former Dean Court striker Stevie Lovell, although the Cherries boss admits his chances of tempting the Falkirk frontman south of the border could be slim.

Meanwhile, former favourite Jamie Vincent could also be a target for Howe – if the club’s transfer embargo is lifted during the close season.

Vincent played alongside Howe when he made 130 appearances during a successful stay with the Dorset outfit between 1996 and 1999.

The cultured left-back was sold in a controversial £440,000 move to Huddersfield, his deadline-day departure a major factor in Cherries failing to reach the play-offs.

Following spells with Portsmouth, Derby and Yeovil, Vincent joined Swindon in July 2006 and was made club captain at the County Ground.

However, injury restricted the 33-year-old to just 18 appearances last season and he was one of 13 players released by the club earlier this month.

But while his availability may interest Howe, the Cherries boss currently has little scope to manoeuvre in the transfer market due to the club’s ongoing transfer embargo.

And his priority remains deciding the immediate futures of his own out-of-contract players Warren Cummings, Ryan Garry, Jeff Goulding, Josh McQuoid, Joe Partington and Ryan Pryce.

Howe told the Daily Echo: “Jamie is someone we are aware of and he did very well when he was here before. We will continue to monitor his situation.

“Although the embargo is still in place, we can’t just sit around and wait for it to be lifted.

“We need to continue to be proactive and to have things in place for when the situation changes.”

Howe’s brother Lovell, meanwhile, left Cherries in a big-money move to Portsmouth in 1999 after progressing through the ranks at Dean Court.

He is currently the top goalscorer with Scottish Premier League outfit Falkirk and has also been linked with Dundee United and Hibernian.

Howe added: “Stevie is out of contract at the end of the season and a number of clubs in Scotland are showing an interest.

“I speak to him on a regular basis and the possibility of him coming here would depend on whether he sees his future in England or Scotland.”

Meanwhile, Howe has quashed speculation linking him with a move for freed Doncaster striker Jason Price.

The rumour mill went into overdrive last week after Price was apparently spotted buying a yellow jumper in a shop in Bournemouth town centre.

Howe said: “Jason Price would be out of our league, financially. As much as I think he’s a very good player, his wages would be far too high for us.

“Given our financial situation, we have got to be very careful who we bring in, if anybody.

“We currently have 20 players either under contract or awaiting decisions on new contracts and will only be permitted to carry a 20-man squad until the embargo is lifted.”