Marseille will have to make an improved bid if they want to sign France international Adil Rami from Sevilla, according to the Spanish club's president Pepe Castro.
The 31-year-old, on the books of Lille from 2006 to 2011, wants to play in France again and Marseille have already made one attempt to bring the experienced defender back this summer.
"We have received an offer from Marseille and we are studying it," Sevilla president Jose Castro told Cadena Ser radio. "The offer we have received has the blessing of the player.
"The truth is the offer is slightly short of what we want and we will continue to negotiate to reach an agreement and if not, he will remain."
Rami, who joined Sevilla in the summer of 2015 from AC Milan, made 21 league starts to help the club finish fourth in Spain's top flight this past season.
Castro also said Sevilla are on course to sign Jesus Navas, despite having already strengthened their midfield this week with the arrivals of Argentinian pair Guido Pizarro and Ever Banega from Tigres and Inter Milan, respectively.
Navas, a free agent since the expiration of his contract with Manchester City last month, is a reported target of Newcastle. Sevilla is where he began his career.
"We were very interested and we still are in Jesus even if we've already brought the first options [Pizarro and Banega] we had considered," Castro said. "We will have a meeting very soon and we hope we can reach an agreement that he can come back to Sevilla because that is our wish."
The 31-year-old, who made 76 Premier League starts for City during his four years at the club, would reportedly welcome a return to his home team.
"Jesus is still a young player," Castro said. "He has many more years left in football and we hope he can showcase all the experience he has back with his people, that is Sevilla."
Castro has less encouraging news about the possible arrival of Manchester City winger Nolito, who is keen to return to Spain one year after joining Manchester City from Celta Vigo in a £13.8m transfer.
Under contract with City until June 2020, Nolito is a target for several Spanish clubs but Sevilla are reportedly leading the race to sign the Spain international who was frustrated with his lack of playing time in the Premier League.
Asked about Nolito's possible arrival, Castro said: "We are still negotiating but there is nothing new and there is nothing done."
Meanwhile, Sevilla have completed the signing of Colombia striker Luis Muriel.
The 26-year-old has passed his medical and signed a five-year contract, Sevilla announced on their website.
Sevilla have paid a reported €20million for the former Udinese hitman, who scored 13 goals for Sampdoria last season and has previously played in Spain while on loan at Granada in 2010.
Information from the Press Association was used in this report.