Real Betis have received four bids for star winger Joaquin, one of them from Barcelona.
 
Betis president Manuel Ruiz de Lopera is keen to retain the Spain international but Real Madrid are favourites to land a player who has also attracted attention from Chelsea and Manchester United.
 
"We have very important offers for the sale of Joaquin," the Seville-based club's supremo told Radio Marca.
 
"One of them will be Barcelona.
 
"All the great clubs are always open for negotiations when you speak about a star and Joaquin is a very good player."
 
Chelsea tabled two massive bids in December for the wide man but were unable to thrash out a deal during the transfer window in January.
 
"I want an important effort to keep the player," added Lopera. "I am not interested in the exit of Joaquin because my club needs the aid of all the players."
 
Lopera believes Betis' qualification for next season's UEFA Champions League will be the decisive factor in keeping hold of the 23-year-old.
 
In a separate interview with local newspaper Diario de Sevilla, he hinted that the other three clubs chasing his star turn are indeed Real, Chelsea and United.
 
"Chelsea, Madrid, Manchester and other teams want Joaquin," he stated. "But now we can close the door."

Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United are on the prowl for summer signings to help tip the balance in what could be the closest Premiership race for years.
 
Arsenal are in negotiations with Stuttgart about Belarus winger Alexander Hleb as manager Arsene Wenger tries to strengthen the right side of his midfield but a deal is being held up by Stuttgart's search for a coach to replace Matthias Sammer.
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The Germans have to decide whether to give his successor a say in Hleb's future. Hleb, who joined Stuttgart in 2000, has three years left on his contract.
 
Chelsea have had a 4 million pound bid for Kakha Kaladze rejected by AC Milan who are believed to be demanding 8.5m pounds for the Georgian left-back, who has one year left on his contract but has made clear his wish to move to Stamford Bridge.
 
The English champions have agreed personal terms with the 27-year-old, who is top of the wanted list ahead of Athletic Bilbao's Asier Del Horno.
 
French champions Lyon insist Michael Essien has signed an extension to his contract but club sources say the Gahana midfielder, whom Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho wants to link with Claude Makelele, is desperate to join the London club, reputedly the world's biggest payers.
 
Lyon were expected to listen to a first Chelsea offer next week.
 
Chelsea's Argentina pair Hernan Crespo and Juan Veron are set to stay in Italy.
 
Chelsea are hopeful of gaining a fee from Milan for Crespo at the end of next season as his contract still has three years to run, but they may cancel Veron's contract after another year on loan at Inter.
 
Manchester were told they could not buy 14-million pound-rated Valencia winger Vicente but were close to snapping up PSV Eindhoven's South Korean midfielder Park Ji-sung after making a 5 million pound bid.
 
Newly-promoted West Ham were reported to be in talks with France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez. The 34-year-old, banned for six months in France for spitting at a referee, is free to resume his playing career in another country.
 
And Portsmouth manager Alain Perrin was making a move for Newcastle's French winger Laurent Robert.

Trophée des champions: Essien n'en sera pas Le 09/06/2005 - 12:57
Pour avoir récolté trois cartons jaunes lors des huit dernières rencontres de championnat, Michael Essien sera suspendu pour le prochain match, à savoir le Trophée des champions prévu le 27 juillet à Auxerre. Mais pour l'instant, l'international ghanéen hésiterait à entamer une troisième saison à l'OL, tenant compte du grand intérêt manifesté par Chelsea.