Cherries chief Eddie Mitchell last night revealed the latest twist in the Jason Pearce saga – a failed bid from south coast neighbours Portsmouth.

Mitchell confirmed he had rejected an offer from Pompey for the Cherries captain after it fell short of the club’s valuation of the 23-year-old.

Portsmouth, whose interest in their former trainee Pearce was first reported by the Daily Echo last week, were said to have previously made a verbal enquiry about the highly-rated defender.

But Mitchell reported that the Championship outfit had officially followed up by contacting him over the weekend before submitting a bid.

Mitchell, who reiterated that he would like to keep the coveted centre-half at Dean Court, said Portsmouth’s offer was “complicated”, given that Pompey hold a 50 per cent sell-on clause over Pearce, as part of the deal that took him from Fratton Park to Dean Court in 2007.

Mitchell told the Daily Echo: “I can’t go into numbers but there was a bid from Portsmouth which did not tick our boxes. But they are interested in him.”

Pearce, who began his career as an apprentice with Portsmouth, saw a potential £500,000 move to Peterborough United collapse when Cherries discovered the sell-on clause in his contract.

Posh and Pompey are not the only clubs to come in for Pearce, who has been at the centre of speculation since leading Cherries to the League One play-offs last season.

Championship outfit Barnsley have also had an offer turned down, while Burnley, Ipswich Town and Reading have been linked with potential moves for the Cherries star.

When asked if there had been a lot of interest in Pearce, Mitchell added: “Yes, there has been.

“But no other new clubs have come in for him. Peterborough, Barnsley and Portsmouth are the ones that have at the moment.

“I would like to keep him and I have made my intentions known along those lines quite often.”

Meanwhile, Cherries boss Lee Bradbury reported no further updates on potential new recruits.

Cherries could make their first summer signing as early as this week as they look to bolster the squad ahead of next season’s League One campaign.

A central midfielder to replace Danny Hollands is one of Bradbury’s priorities.