Chelsea's pursuit of Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott has suffered an early setback after the South Coast club rejected the Blues' opening offer for the highly rated England youngster.

According to BBC Sport, Chelsea submitted a bid worth £64 million for the 22-year-old, but Bournemouth have made it clear they value Scott at around £80 million and are not prepared to negotiate below that figure.

Scott has emerged as one of the Premier League's most sought-after midfielders following his impressive performances for Bournemouth. His displays have also attracted interest from Manchester United and Arsenal, setting up a potential transfer battle among three of England's biggest clubs.

The midfielder still has two years remaining on his contract with Bournemouth, putting the Cherries in a strong position as they look to retain one of their key players unless their valuation is met.

It remains uncertain whether Chelsea will return with an improved offer before the summer transfer window closes. The West London club has been active in the market as it continues to strengthen its squad ahead of the new campaign under manager Xabi Alonso.

Chelsea have already completed several signings this summer, including Morgan Rogers, Marco Palestra, Emmanuel Emegha, Geovany Quenda, and Valentin Barco, as Alonso reshapes the squad for the challenges ahead.

With competition from Manchester United and Arsenal also looming, Chelsea may need to act quickly—and significantly increase their offer—if they hope to secure Scott's signature before the transfer deadline.