Arsenal target Julio Baptista has shunned Sevilla's offer of a new deal.
Arsenal target Julio Baptista has shunned Sevilla's attempts to tie him down to a new deal.The Gunners had their opening bid for Baptista rebuffed last week, but now a second bid of close to £10 million is widely expected.
Sevilla are desperate to keep their star forward, nicknamed 'The Beast', but it now looks increasingly likely that he will be quitting The Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
The Spanish club's supremo Jose Maria Del Nido has now confirmed that the Brazilian has snubbed the chance to treble his current salary at Sevilla.
"The player does not want to renew," said Del Nido.
"We have offered him an amount that would triple his deal, but he has not accepted it.''
Del Nido looks to have accepted the fact that Baptista will depart, but he does not appreciate the supposed tactics being employed by the player's agent.
"The player and his surroundings are making declarations, that do not compare to what they were saying over the last year," added Del Nido.
"The situation varies every 24 hours, but after seeing what passes and the pressure being put on Sevilla by different clubs - the effect is normal."
Arsenal are leading the chase for Baptista and the player has signalled his ambition to move to Highbury, but Del Nido warned that other clubs are interested.
"There are other Spanish teams and foreign clubs that also have an interest," he added.
