Chelsea have seen a £64 million bid for Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott rejected, while the Blues are also exploring a free transfer for former Manchester City defender John Stones.

Chelsea have stepped up their transfer activity with ambitious moves in both midfield and defence, although their opening bid for Bournemouth star Alex Scott has already been turned down by the Cherries.

Bournemouth have rejected Chelsea’s £64 million offer for the highly-rated England Under-21 international, making it clear that they have no intention of selling one of their key players during the current transfer window.

The south coast club have also warned Chelsea that they are not interested in entertaining further bids, underlining their desire to keep Scott despite growing interest from several of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.

However, Scott’s long-term future remains uncertain after reports that he has declined a contract extension that Bournemouth have had on the table for at least two months, potentially opening the door for renewed interest before the transfer window closes.

Chelsea are not the only club monitoring the midfielder’s situation. Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City have all registered interest in Scott at various stages of the summer, highlighting his growing reputation in English football.

Away from midfield, Chelsea are also exploring defensive reinforcements and are considering a move for England international John Stones following his departure from Manchester City. The experienced centre-back is available as a free agent after his contract expired at the end of June.

Inter Milan are also keeping tabs on Stones, but Chelsea remain firmly in the race as Xabi Alonso continues reshaping his squad. Alongside their pursuit of the veteran defender, the Blues remain in negotiations with Crystal Palace over Maxence Lacroix while also assessing Como defender Jacobo Ramon as another potential defensive addition.