SPECULATION is mounting concerning the future of Cherries star Carl Fletcher.

Rumours sweeping Dean Court suggest the cash-strapped club could be on the verge of accepting a substantial bid for the highly-rated Cherries skipper.

And unconfirmed reports indicate that Championship hopefuls West Ham could be in the process of tabling an offer in the region of £200,000 for the club's prized asset.

The Hammers look set to move following the departure of midfielder Michael Carrick to Spurs last week and probably see Fletcher as the ideal replacement for the England international.

Former Bournemouth number two Peter Grant, now assistant manager at Upton Park, is likely to have marked Hammers boss Alan Pardew's card about Fletcher's undoubted potential.

However, news of West Ham's interest could prompt Fletcher's other suitors to enter the bidding, with Nottingham Forest, Leeds, Sheffield United and Cardiff City all believed to be in the running.

Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell was among the crowd at Luton where it seems Fletcher may have played his last game for the club during Cherries' 1-0 defeat by the League One leaders.

At the time of going to press, the Daily Echo had been unable to contact Cherries chairman Peter Phillips to discuss the speculation.

Despite his worth to the team, Cherries will probably be keen to cash-in on Fletcher who is out of contract next summer and therefore entitled to a Bosman free transfer.

Fletcher has regularly been the subject of intense transfer talk and the speculation started to gather pace following his shock arrival on the international scene with Wales earlier this year.

The Surrey-born 24-year-old made his mark on his debut against Scotland at the Millennium Stadium in February and also raised his profile by turning in three eye-catching displays for his country over the summer.

Fletcher, who progressed through the Dean Court ranks before signing pro forms in 1998, has made 225 league and cup appearances for the club, scoring 23 times.