Real Betis coach Rubi has declared his wish to keep Giovani Lo Celso amid transfer links to both Tottenham and Bayern Munich.
The La Liga side might already be on the way to finding a replacement for the Argentina international with Nabil Fekir's move to Spain appearing imminent.
The Frenchman - who came close to joining Liverpool last summer and has been linked with a move to Arsenal this year - is close to joining La La Liga side Real Madrid for £26m.
"It is likely that he will leave, he is in the negotiation stage," new Lyon boss Sylvinho said . "For him and the club's good, I hope it will be resolved as quickly as possible.
"He is a wonderful player, a very high level footballer, just seeing him drive the ball to training is a joy, and I take this opportunity to publicly wish him a happy birthday.
"Of course we will miss him."
While that initially seemed like good news for Spurs and other interest parties, Rubi has made his feelings about the duo clear.
"He's a top player just like Lo Celso, the top player in the world," Rubi said of Fekir following his side's defeat to Oporto. "I wish I could have both."
That may be the Betis coach's wish but he has in the past admitted the midfielder is likely to leave. That said no club has met Lo Celso's release clause of £88m at this stage. £70m is thought to be an agreeable figure for his sale but that would Mauricio Pochettino once again breaking Tottenham's transfer record this summer.
"We all want new faces soon but in the end we also look for the economic benefit and it is not easy," Rubi told El Desmarque . I know who does or does not have that intention. We are talking about a case in which the idea is very clear to leave.
"It could be [Lo Celso], as a coach, I am delighted that he can join and help him do what he did last year and enjoy football."
"The rest is staying."
