Sevilla are closing in on the signing of Manchester City winger Nolito, according to the Spanish club's president.
Nolito wants to return to La Liga after a disappointing first season in the Premier League where he was frustrated by a lack of playing time.
Under contract with City until June 2020, Nolito, who joined from Celta Vigo last summer, is a target for several Spanish clubs.
"When you talk about top players you can't say that the deal is done but it's true that we have taken a step forward for Nolito to play at Sevilla," club president Jose Castro told Cadena Ser Radio Sevilla. "I think we are getting closer to reaching an understanding to see a player of Nolito's calibre play here after Manchester City paid €18 million for him last summer."
Nolito was one of the top players in La Liga, scoring 12 goals and setting up seven more in 27 league starts for Celta in the 2015-16 campaign. However, he made only nine league starts for City and 10 appearances as a substitute last season and lost his place in Spain's squad.
Real Betis and Celta have also expressed an interest in signing Nolito this summer but a switch to Sevilla would see Nolito reunited with his former coach at Celta, Eduardo Berizzo.
Berizzo recently signed a two-year contract with the club and expressed his admiration for Nolito during his unveiling last week. Moreover, Sevilla finished fourth in La Liga and will play in Champions League qualifying next season.
Marca reports that Sevilla have already reached an agreement with Nolito but have yet to agree with the Premier League club on the terms of his transfer.
According to the publication, Sevilla want to take Nolito on a season-long loan with an option, not an obligation, to acquire the player next summer.
The club are reportedly willing to pay the player's wages during Nolito's stay, €3m net, but are not prepared to go higher than €8m to buy the winger next year.
Sevilla are also interested in bringing Manchester City winger Jesus Navas back to the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium, when the player becomes a free agent next month.
The 31-year-old reportedly has offers from Italy and Turkey but it is claimed he would welcome a return to his home town club Sevilla, the side that sold him in the summer of 2013.
"We have made an offer and we are waiting to meet his agents," Castro said of Navas."I had the opportunity to speak to [Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola] recently and he told me that Jesus is good for three or four more seasons.
"He said only good things about him."
Castro, meanwhile, is pessimistic about Stevan Jovetic remaining at the club for the 2017-18 campaign.
Jovetic joined Sevilla on a six-month loan from Inter in January and scored six goals while setting up four more in 21 league appearances.
"It's true that we offered an amount that we considered adequate to acquire Jovetic but Inter turned it down," Castro said of the Montenegro international is under contract with Inter until June 2019. "I don't know if that means he will not remain. We are looking at other options but that doesn't mean that we will not continue to try and reach an agreement with him [Jovetic].
"We all have to make an effort for that transfer to be completed."