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Sevilla president Jose María del Nido has flown to London with a view to selling star striker Alvaro Negredo.

The former lawyer touched down at Heathrow's Terminal 5 just after two o'clock today and will undertake a tour of England to try and sell the former Real Madrid hitman.

Spain forward Negredo is one of the Seville club's prized assets, but with European qualification looking unlikely and an already bleak financial situation, del Nido has been forced to raise funds by selling his top players.

Playmaker Ivan Rakitic is expected to sign for Lokomotiv Moscow in a €10million deal but funds are so depleted at the Ramón Sanchez Pizjuan that even that eight-figure fee is not enough to alleviate the club's financial worries.

(Image: Getty)

MirrorFootball's Spanish correspondent David Cartlidge revealed that the club is looking to address its rising debt levels.

"Sevilla's shareholder meeting in December was their most alarming in years as it was the first time in Del Nido's tenure, since assuming the Presidency in 2002, that the club had announced a loss.

"[The debt] was €15m, and possibly up to €22m. And as of June 2012, debt stands at €49m.

"Del Nido said during the meeting in December there is a need to sell, and €16m is the target. Despite his recent denials, the figures don't lie about Sevilla's predicament and it's clear the most saleable assets are Negredo, Medel, Fazio, Jesus Navas and Ivan Rakitic."

Spanish site Muchodeporte reports that the club are looking for a fee of €18million for Negredo, including clauses and bonuses, and mentions Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle as as possible destinations for the Spanish international.

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Chelsea were linked with the World Cup winner in December, but

would seem to rule them out of the equation for the desperate del Nido.

A natural finisher both in the air and on the deck, Negredo also boasts the physique required to survive in the Premier League according to our La Liga expert Cartlidge: "Negredo would offer Chelsea a physical point in attack, he is willing to play with his back to goal and also to take defenders away with smart runs.

"Although tough, physical on the exterior he's skilful and can finish. I have doubts about him playing in a pair, as he seems to like the lone striker role."

Andre Villas-Boas' admission that it will be "difficult" to sign top target Leandro Damiao could be perfect timing for Sevilla and Negredo, with the Spurs boss keen to bolster his striking options during Emmanuel

(Image: Getty)

Adebayor's absence leaves Villas-Boas with just one recognised striker in Jermain Defoe, but the Tottenham manager said that does not mean Damiao is on his way to White Hart Lane, despite reports the club had

"Leandro is a player we've always appreciated, that this club appreciated before I arrived, but it's extremely difficult that he's going to join Tottenham," the Portuguese manager told a press conference this afternoon.

"He's a player that is highly rated in the market, and it's unlikely that he will play for Tottenham."

The Spurs boss has not shown any previous interest in Negredo but it is rumoured in Spain that del Nido ranks White Hart Lane as one of his most likely destinations.