Chelsea's pursuit of Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott is reportedly heating up, even after the Cherries knocked back an opening offer worth £64m, according to The Standard.
The report suggests Scott himself is keen on making the move to Stamford Bridge, despite his club's reluctance to sell at that price. Bournemouth are said to value the young midfielder highly and are in no rush to let him go cheaply, having watched him develop into one of the Premier League's more promising talents.
For Chelsea, Scott represents part of their broader plan to strengthen through the middle of the park, with the club continuing to scour the market for younger players who fit their long-term project under the ownership's data-driven recruitment model.
Whether Chelsea will return with an improved bid remains to be seen, but The Standard's report indicates the player's own desire to join could yet prove decisive in any negotiations between the two clubs as the transfer window progresses.