CHERRIES boss Sean O'Driscoll looks set to step up his search for a striker after failing in a bid to sign Ipswich Town's highly-rated teenager Darren Bent.

O'Driscoll was keen to bring the 17-year-old marksman to Dean Court on loan, but was knocked back after approaching Ipswich manager George Burley last week.

It is the second time Burley has blocked Cherries' bid for Bent after O'Driscoll made enquiries for the England under-19 striker at the start of this season.

O'Driscoll moved for Bent after he was also thwarted in a bid to sign West Ham's Richard Garcia, another player he has twice tried to add to his squad this season.

Boss O'Driscoll and his two-man scouting staff of Mike Corderoy and Jeff Baskerville have been scouring the country for new blood and Bent and Garcia were two of their main targets.

But following rebuffs by Ipswich and West Ham - and discounting players who were seeking wages of around £4,000 a week - O'Driscoll and his staff are likely to redouble their efforts this week with a view to bolstering the Cherries squad ahead of Saturday's visit of Huddersfield.

Cherries, two points and two places above the Division Two relegation zone, have mustered just five goals in a run which has seen them fail to win for nine league and cup games.

O'Driscoll, speaking to the Daily Echo on his way to Manchester to watch another target last night, said: "I think we need to get somebody in to freshen things up a bit - somebody who doesn't come with the baggage of the side not scoring.

"The search goes on all the time, but it's difficult because if you find a striker who's scoring goals then people aren't going to let them out on loan.

"Then you are faced with the dilemma of an experienced player who is not in the team and on massive wages or a young, inexperienced striker, and there are no guarantees either way.

"We are not going to be able to afford to buy anybody and although we've got options with loan players, some of the wages we are being quoted are way beyond our means.

"It's disappointing about Darren and Richard because we felt they were the type of players who would have fitted in here, but Ipswich and West Ham felt they didn't need to let them out on loan."

O'Driscoll is also considering running the rule over Hull City's out-of-favour left-back Michael Price, 19, during a reserve game at Kidderminster tomorrow.

The Welsh under-21 international is believed to be available on a free transfer.

O'Driscoll added: "Michael was recommended to us by an agent when he was released by Everton in the summer.

"We spoke to somebody who had seen him in an international and they said he was worth having a look at.

"However, before we had a chance to watch him, he signed for Hull, but he is playing for their reserves at Kidderminster tomorrow (Wednesday January 16) and if we can get there we will."