Bournemouth defender Simon Francis has admitted that he was flattered by Derby County's interest in him earlier this summer.

The Rams are understood to have failed with two bids to sign the 29-year-old last month.

Despite revealing that a switch to Derby might have been hard to turn down, Francis is optimistic about the season ahead with Bournemouth.

"Derby is a club close to my family and I have a lot of friends up that way. It was something I was aware of over the summer but the valuation was never met and it didn't get far at all," he told the Bournemouth Echo.

"It was flattering that a club of their calibre showed an interest but I think that's down to what we're doing as a club, as a group of players and how the manager has got us playing."

Francis joined Bournemouth in 2012 following a two-year spell with Charlton Athletic.