Jean Michael Seri came close to joining Barcelona in the summer

Everton are one of a number of Premier League clubs interested in Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri, sources close to the player have told Sky Sports News.

Seri's preference is believed to be a move to the Premier League - either this month or in the summer - but to a club playing Champions League football.

Seri came close to joining Barcelona back in August but Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivere claimed the Spanish club pulled out of the deal at the last minute.

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Speaking to French TV channel Canal+, Rivere said: "The two clubs (Nice and Barcelona) had agreed a price of €40m (£36.8m), but the situation took a turn at the last moment.

"[Nice's general director Julien Fournier called me and said] 'Jean-Pierre, I don't understand anything. Barcelona just called me. Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu, with some embarrassment, tells me that they don't want Seri.'

"I don't understand anything. It was practically done. I put myself in the place of Seri and it's tough. His dream of going to Barca was close, but in one night it broke down."