CHERRIES have had a “£12million” bid turned down for Brentford defender Chris Mepham, according to the Daily Mail.

The publication reported the Dorset club, as well as Premier League rivals Leicester both had “bids knocked back” for the Wales international.

Leicester are understood by the Mail to have had a £10m offer rejected.

Mepham yesterday played 90 minutes as the Bees opened their Championship campaign with a 5-1 win over Rotherham at Griffin Park.

Cherries in June were reportedly planning to bid around £10m for the 20-year-old but were told Brentford would not contemplate selling him.

Towards the end of the January transfer window, Sky Sports claimed the club had made a bid of £5.5million, plus add-ons, for Mepham which was turned down.

The defender made his senior international debut for Wales when he came off the bench during a 6-0 win against China in March.

He earned his first start for his country in front of a crowd of more than 82,000 in a 0-0 draw against Mexico in May.

Hammersmith-born Mepham was previously on the books at Chelsea before joining the Bees aged 14.

His only senior goal for the club came in a 1-1 draw against Sheffield United in March.