Alvaro Negredo... set to leave Sevilla.

Spain striker Alvaro Negredo could be edging ever closer to a move away from Sevilla, after his coach Unai Emery admitted it would “best for everyone” if he left.

The 27-year-old, who scored 25 Primera Liga goals last season – a tally only bettered by Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Radamel Falcao – has indicated he would like to leave this summer, with Manchester City reportedly among the interested parties.

The Andalusian club rejected a bid for him from La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid, while president Jose Maria Del Nido has stressed he has not received any formal bids for Negredo from City, who signed winger Jesus Navas from Sevilla in June.

Negredo told the club’s official website earlier last week that he would not force a move, but would also be open to leaving for pastures new.

He said: “Right now, I’m at Seville and like it very much there. If I stay that’ll be fine but if I leave then it will be because it benefits both the club and myself.”

Sevilla signed Colombia forward Carlos Bacca from Club Brugge on Wednesday for €6 million, while Raul Rusescu was acquired from Steaua Bucharest in June.

The signings appeared to indicate the club were preparing for Negredo’s departure, and coach Emery does not expect his top scorer to be around for much longer.

“The most likely situation is that he will leave,” he told a press conference.

“It’s possible the club can’t reach an agreement for him, but we are prepared, we have spent some time working on alternatives.

“Of course we’re not going to find a player with the same characteristics as him or one who is going to have the same record, but we will find players who will be important to the future of this club, and I trust the work the club is doing in that area.”

Sevilla’s financial problems have been public knowledge for some time, and Emery explained that selling Negredo – for the right price – would go some way towards balancing the books.

He said: “The cards are on the table. Negredo is a very important player to Sevilla and he could continue to be one, either by staying here or by earning the club a big transfer fee.

“We know he could leave, but it would be the best for everyone.

“The club would be able to meet its financial obligations, andalthough we would lose a key player, we need to be reasonable, like we were in the case of Jesus Navas.

“Our aim is to produce new players that can reach the same heights (as Negredo and Navas).”