Sevilla say Gunners’s bid for Baptista ‘close’

SEVILLA president Jose Maria Del Nido has claimed Arsenal’s latest bid for Brazilian Julio Baptista is close to the figure they would accept.

The 23-year-old is thought to prefer a move to another Spanish club but Del Nido has confirmed Arsenal have upped the stakes.

Del Nido revealed: “We still have not concluded an agreement between both clubs but what I can say is that Arsenal are getting close to the financial figure we could accept.