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Sevilla still trying to sign Jesus Navas, Stevan Jovetic - club president

Sevilla president Jose Castro has said the club still hope to sign Jesus Navas and Stevan Jovetic.

Navas, a free agent after his contract at Manchester City ended, has been heavily linked with a return to the club where he began his career.

And Jovetic, who spent the second half of last season on loan to Sevilla from Inter Milan, is another player they have made an approach for.

"We're waiting for a response," Castro said of Navas. "It's a pretty generous offer and we've made a significant effort. He also would like to play for Sevilla. We can't say anything more.

"Also, we've been trying with Jovetic for a long time but haven't reached anything complete. It's a more open option. Jovetic is not a closed one as nothing which this club is interested in is closed."

Castro also said the club have not changed their stance on the situation that saw Atletico Madrid sign Vitolo and loan him to Las Palmas.

"We've already said it," he said. "We've decided to go against all parties in this case who have mistreated the club and the president. We have trump cards we can play against the teams and people involved. We will do it without rushing, but also without pause.

"There are two law firms working on it. We are going to respect Sevilla. What happened, from our point of view, is very unfortunate. Subjecting the Vitolo issue to a judicial process means doing everything jurists tell us to do to defend Sevilla's interests".

Castro was speaking at a news conference to announce Nolito's arrival from Manchester City, and said of the player: "Sevilla have made a significant effort to bring Nolito here but so did he, to be here at Sevilla."

Sevilla face a two-legged qualifier for the Champions League, and Castro outlined the importance of reaching the group stages of the competition for a third consecutive season.

"It's very important to get through it," he said. "To compete in the Champions League group stage for three years in a row is significant not just economically, but for our reputation. It would mean that we are growing."