Well – would you believe it – 23 year-old Hatem Ben Arfa’s move to Newcastle United may be back on – and that’s according to new reports coming out of France and a report in today’s Evening Chronicle.
Hatem Ben Arfa – interesting Newcastle again?
The Marseilles President Jean-Claude Dassier has said today that a deal with Newcastle has now been agreed.
The French club have agreed to loan out the French international, now that an additional clause the French club wanted in the contract – to make the deal permanent should he play more than 25 matches – has been agreed to by the Newcastle club.
It is thought the fee will be around £5M to sign the player permanently after 25 matches.
Ben Arfa travelled to Tyneside just two weeks ago, in an attempt to arrange his own move to the Premier League club, but couldn’t talk with Newcastle because no deal had been agreed with Marseilles at that time.
Newcastle are yet to respond to the claims from Marseilles, but this news is not that surprising if it is true, since news that other clubs were supposedly linked with the player seem to have been unfounded.
These clubs have included Werder Bremen, Liverpool, AC Milan and even Manchester United.
So far in his career Ben Arfa has played 178 first class games with 26 goals for Lyon and Marseilles – and that’s about the same number of games that Steven Taylor has played for Newcastle, so the lad is quite experienced.
If the news is indeed true, and of course we have no idea whether the reports in France are true this time around – what a saga this one has been – this will come as a big lift to Newcastle fans.
While the lad may be difficult to handle, he’s nevertheless a wonderful footballer with sublime skills, and is just the type of players fans love to see at St. James’ Park.
We hope it’s true.
Comments welcome.
197 comments so far
alan shearer
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:20 PM
Comment #41XI- so tiote will be rready by tml?
Magpietillidie22
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:21 PM
Comment #42Since we’ve signed tiote and ASSUMING the ben arfa deal is gonna go through I think Ben arfa will be pushed wide.
The reason being i just cant see hughton replacing 2 out of nolan, barton and smith with the new guys. I can see smith dropping to bench for tiote but i just dont think he will be tough enough to drop nolan or barton for ben arfa
MacToon
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:21 PM
Comment #43alan shearer, why don’t you go talk on ur mackem sites? Suppose you already are, missing Jones eh. You are discredited here!
kentonmags
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:21 PM
Comment #44everyone seems to forget even though we just came back up we are still a massive club with one of the best support around and the best stadium.
you still think he is too big for us well think again.
alan shearer
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:22 PM
Comment #45tot ch promised central role for hba?
alan shearer
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:22 PM
Comment #46MacToon..im not that childish to argue with you..u wanna fight go away
liamdee100
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:24 PM
Comment #47ok Toon XI thanks, alan shearer i agree he should definatly play in a more attacking central role
danielgwkent
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:24 PM
Comment #48This is yet another example of irresponsible , sensationalist blog journalism, Ed. Honestly, it’s as bad as the red-tops gossip columns. I, for one, have had enough of this misleading garbage this summer. Won’t be logging onto this blog again, plenty of other more rational grounded bloggers out there who value things like quotes, sources and accountability. A shame.
Angryman the Angry fan
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:24 PM
Comment #49Im losing the will to live………………………
MacToon
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:24 PM
Comment #50It’s a NUFC site and everyone should know you are a mackem, that’s all, no fight neccesary.
NUFC_Richyg01
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:25 PM
Comment #51Atleast if HBA comes in we dont need to worry about Hoots persuing RSCruz
alan shearer
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:25 PM
Comment #52im not mackem..u shut up..show respect to me
Martins09
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:25 PM
Comment #53well said MacToon!!!
alan shearer
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:26 PM
Comment #54liamdee-so i think one central midfielder will be benched
Toon XI
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:26 PM
Comment #55AS –
not sure when he’ll be approved. Just know the club attended formal work permit hearing.
alan shearer
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:26 PM
Comment #56ginkoh say jones is a good pl player..not me..u get this clear..
alan shearer
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:27 PM
Comment #57XI- it seems tiote wont start against wolves
Angryman the Angry fan
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:27 PM
Comment #58Logically…
Lets say he did sign (yes i know, if you cant beat em…)
Harper
Perch
Colo
Wils
Jose
Rotledge
Barton
Nolan
Jonas
Tiote
Carrol
Where would you play him???
NUFC_Richyg01
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:28 PM
Comment #59@ Angryman the Angry fan // Aug 26, 2010 at 4:27 PM
Instead of Routledge
Toon XI
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:28 PM
Comment #60RSC would be a bad signing unless on a real inexpensive loan.
alan shearer
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:29 PM
Comment #61either routledge and nolan will be sacrificed.i think.jonas wont be..
Martins09
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:29 PM
Comment #62Ben Arfa is better than any midfielder we have at the club atm!!! attacking mid behind carroll tho
alan shearer
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:29 PM
Comment #63i doubt rsc is targeted…ch cant be tt daft?
kentonmags
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:30 PM
Comment #64———–harper————-
perch–colo–willy-jose
————tiote—————
routlege-barton-jonas
———–ben arfa———-
———–carroll———–
Angryman the Angry fan
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:31 PM
Comment #65Do we think HOTTS HITTS HOOTS FFS, will drop Nolan or Barton…..then will he drop Rotledge (his signing) or Jose??
Do we know that Arfa Ben hayeem malinka or whtever he ios called is more consistent than Jonas or Spoutledge??? a Resounding NO!!
and as per marseille….he wont be happy with a seat on the bench 🙁
Come on guys man….its mischief making at its best, I am actually being nice as I am starting to feel sorry for some of you guys!!
indianmagpie
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:31 PM
Comment #66@angryman: instead of routledge…and routledge to be a “super sub”….
Toon XI
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:32 PM
Comment #67AS
Agreed. I don’t think Wiley Tiote will be chasing the roadrunner on Saturday morning.
alan shearer
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:32 PM
Comment #68kentonmags-i agree but quite sad..cos nolan has the knack to be at right place at right time
shearer4pm
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:33 PM
Comment #69looking at number 2’s video. he looks comfortable on either wing. but isnt a one trick pony he doesnt always cutt inside when he’s on the on the left. hes not scared to go on the outside the defender. and same on the right
liamdee100
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:34 PM
Comment #70CH isnt going to drop nolan he has just named him club captain and he cannot drop smith because he named him vice captain so really he would have to drop routhladge
kentonmags
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:35 PM
Comment #71nolan will only turn up if the team turns up we need someone that when the lads are having a off day can win the game themselves i seen it before with the likes of c.ronaldo and yes i am putting HBA in his catogory.
alan shearer
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:35 PM
Comment #72liamdee..so u sayin even if smith and nolan are fatso and cannot run..he will not drop them?
Magpietillidie22
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:37 PM
Comment #73lol i can see why 71 is a mackem!
Smith will be dropped for tiote and ben arfa will be pushed to a wing. CH will not drop nolan (captain) and he hasnt got the balls to drop barton AND smith
liamdee100
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:38 PM
Comment #74AS – i dont think CH has the guts to drop them and he couldnt really because they have both had good starts to the season.
NUFC_Richyg01
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:38 PM
Comment #75I think HBA will be played on the right
alan shearer
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:38 PM
Comment #76pls dun insult CH..he is a great manager
liamdee100
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:39 PM
Comment #77richy – i agree i dont think CH will drop anybody else other than routhledge.
Gordo
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:40 PM
Comment #78Just wish the HBA saga would come to a conclusion,getting fed up with it, will he won’t he
alan shearer
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:40 PM
Comment #79there will be a first time to everytime..he needs to risk.if not how will he know?
Magpietillidie22
Aug 26, 2010 at 4:41 PM
Comment #80lmao at AS
either hes 7 years old or hes steve bruce
Richygo1 – i think your right