Sevilla have turned down Arsenal’s opening offer for their Brazilian striker Julio Baptista.

Arsene Wenger is reported to have made a £6m bid for Baptista, but that figure falls somewhat short of Sevilla’s valuation of the player.

“The offer does not match our valuation of the player,” Sevilla president Jose Maria Del Nido is quoted as saying in the Daily Star.

Del Nido is happy to strike a deal with Arsenal, having sold Jose Reyes to The Gunners in January 2004.

“We have very good relations with Arsenal after the Reyes transfer,” added Del Nido.