Sports Daily L’Equipe is reporting today that French winger Hatem Ben Arfa has returned to France, and that he will not play again for English Premier League club, Hull City, who he was on loan to from Newcastle United in what is the last year of his contract at the Tyneside club.
Ben Arfa in action for Hull City
L’Equipe is reporting the Paris-born 27 year-old has been back in his home town for the last three days, and is working with a fitness trainer, and is said to be already looking for a new club.
While Ben Arfa still has just over six months of his contract to run at Newcastle, negotiations are going on for Ben Arfa to end his loan spell at Hull, who are said to want his wages of around £50K/week off their wage bill.
L’Equipe is usually accurate in their reporting, and they say that clubs in Germany, Spain and France are interested in taking him as a free agent, but Newcastle would also have to release him from his contract at the Magpies for him to become available in January.
However, it wouldn’t be the first time that Newcastle have ended a player’s contract to let him leave on a free transfer, and we did that with Joey Barton back in the summer of 2011, when he then signed on at QPR for huge wages, and he’s still there.
Hull are at Chelsea today, and Ben Arfa has not been in the Hull 18 man match-day squad since he was hauled off at Manchester United two weeks ago, when Hull manager Steve Bruce after the game said he just wasn’t working hard enough for the side.
If this report is true, we would expect to get statements from both Hull City and Newcastle United on the status of Ben Arfa.
That would be the status of his loan deal to the Humberside club – and also on whether Newcastle have released him from his contract, so he is also off Newcastle’s wage bill.
Comments welcome.
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42 comments so far
Reyantoon
Dec 13, 2014 at 2:47 PM
Comment #1Whatever happens,one of our center backs should be replaced by another senior center back next season.By this Argentinian or another.But I like Coloccini to stay at least till end of his contract.He done so well so far with the unsung Dummett at the back!BTW,
Did I heard Janmaat slightly miss out to be named player of the month for Nov??
Back to todays game;
whoever plays whoever not,I won’t bother if we lose this game.It will never be easy to get a result at arsenal even if you have strong starting eleven.I strongly prefer us to get a result in the league cup on Wednesday.
mag92
Dec 13, 2014 at 2:48 PM
Comment #2He’s obviously finished, as a Premier league force!
Transfer Sage
Dec 13, 2014 at 2:49 PM
Comment #3Total waster.
Ruined his own career at every club he’s been too as well as with his national side twice.
mag92
Dec 13, 2014 at 2:51 PM
Comment #4The guy has been to Hull and back!
Transfer Sage
Dec 13, 2014 at 2:51 PM
Comment #5Fancy some points today.
Arsenal missing Wilshire, Ramsey, Arteta, Koscielny, Chambers, Monreal….got to get at them. Would have been very confident if sissoko plays.
Apparently debuchy will play CB which means they’ll have him in the wrong place and also an inexperienced right back.
mag92
Dec 13, 2014 at 2:52 PM
Comment #6Debuchy, to concede a penalty!
toon kk
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:00 PM
Comment #7Let’s hope Tiote gets another wonder goal instead of picking up bookings.
kevymartins
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:00 PM
Comment #8@Sage Didn’t Wenger say Debuchy was to inexperienced to play CB? Anyway Arsenal will always be a force going forward and as I said before if Willo plays Sanchez/Wellbeck will attack him and they will win.
But if he plays Janmaat/Colo/Dummett/Haidara I could really see us doing the gunners.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:04 PM
Comment #9Complete waste of talent. It makes you wonder who’ll give him 10K a week to upset their squad and watch him do sfa for 90 minutes.
kevymartins
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:06 PM
Comment #10Wouldn’t be surprised if Benny ended up in the SPL.
weg
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:13 PM
Comment #11JP,
Plenty to do in newcastle. Cafes, bars, restaurants, discovery museum, hancock museum, centre for life, cinemas, theatres, quaside sunday market, metrocentre/newcastle town centre for shopping. Live music, performance art, poetry readings, art galleries, comedy clubs (i think!), sports/fitness centres, snooker halls, iceskating, metro arena (for concerts and shows). Also The Baltic – for art, plenty of parks around the region, beautiful scenery, glorious coastline beaches.
I think Newcastle is more vibrant than Jail might think. It all depends on your interests!
You’d think I worked for the tourist board! 🙂
Mister Tuff
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:13 PM
Comment #12Bennys last chance is to do an Obertan and get himself superfit. He could do that in a matter of weeks -it’s really down to him now. Otherwise the football wilderness awaits.
Transfer Sage
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:13 PM
Comment #13Very true. Willo will be a problem. Think people say he is worse than he is, he’s a below par CB for the league. Not a non league player as some paint him to be. He does try to play the ball on the carpet a bit more now.
As for debuchy. Maybe I’m wrong then, just read yesterday he will be in CB with only 1 days training….might have changed.
Mister Tuff
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:14 PM
Comment #14kevy – that’s not a bad shout -Rangers?
Transfer Sage
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:15 PM
Comment #15Jail
Totally agree. Complete waste of talent, it’s all well and good some saying he needs to be managed but he’s just a lazy bloke, he needs to take responsibility (not enough people seem to do that now) and control his own future not blame everyone else.
He isn’t fit, he’s lazy and his odd moment of magic isn’t worth everything else.
I’d put money he will be playing in either the Arab leagues, the new indian league or China next year.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:16 PM
Comment #16The fans that voted Willo for player of the year obviously don’t post on here, unless it was a pi$$ take.
Slank
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:16 PM
Comment #17MT @ 12
Get fit isn’t the problem.
Getting the right attitude is.
Transfer Sage
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:19 PM
Comment #18Slank
Exactly. Look at messi and ronaldo. So much natural talent but go to the nth degree to make sure they get 100% of that talent onto the pitch. Very fit, work hard, train more, innovate their play, they do anything and everything to excel.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:21 PM
Comment #19Weg,
Apart from the landmarks you mentioned you can do all the things you mentioned pretty much anywherd, I certainly wouldn’t want to travel 2000 miles to spend a day in the metro centre
Novocastrian66
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:21 PM
Comment #20Weg; don’t forget The Keep and The Black Gate.
JP I would give the Quayside Sunday market a miss.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:24 PM
Comment #21Sorry weg,
I forgot to mention the Baltic in my advice to JP.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:25 PM
Comment #22Novo,
The black garter pub is cheap as chips for beer on matchdays. No, it’s not a strip club.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:27 PM
Comment #23JP I mean
Jail for Ashley
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:31 PM
Comment #24W Ham just equalised
Shadow_Shearer
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:34 PM
Comment #25Ppl need 2 get off willo and gouffy backs, footballers don’t automatically lose all there talent over night. They have been pardewed.
Now that wer relying on youngsters, this is there chance to rest up and get back in shape.
These guys have good attitudes about them, just like obertan or the two taylors. unlike ben arfa or cabaye. At least ben arfa wanted to be here. Cabaye took the first opportunity to get out.
Get off willo and gouffy backs, they are trying, they give there everything, that’s all we ask, soon there form will come back, have some faith and belief ppl!!
MacToon
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:38 PM
Comment #26http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2014/nov/22/newcastle-travel-best-uk-city-galleries-restaurants
Kebabacus
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:40 PM
Comment #27Willo and Gouffran haven’t been Pardewed, they play like £1 million footballers – which is exactly what they are.
Good enough for Burnley or Hull, but not good enough for us. Sorry.
toon kk
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:41 PM
Comment #28Shadow shearer
I didn’t think willo and gouffy had any form to come back. They’re championship players at best.
Shadow_Shearer
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:42 PM
Comment #29Newcastle 6/1 to win outright against arsenal at William Hill.
What can be better than watching newcastle win, and make money at the same time!
Jail for Ashley
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:47 PM
Comment #30Willo, imo is a very good fourth choice CB, it is simply not his fault that the miserly owner of our football club has continually refused to buy a quality defender that would permantly keep Willo as a fourth choice.
Shadow_Shearer
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:47 PM
Comment #31Before the season started, most on this blog was saying the same about obertan, dummet, sammy and s.taylor. nobody is saying there championship at best now
Brutooon
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:49 PM
Comment #32I been a fan of HBA since his marseille and lyon days but i think this guy ruins his career.
Combination of lazziness and ego.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:55 PM
Comment #33Shadow Shearer,
Not sure STaylor was on that list, it’s his injury woes that prevent him from being a top player.
kevymartins
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:57 PM
Comment #34@Shadow_Shearer Willo is just that back up player that is good for a Season or 2 after promotion. The only thing he offers our team is aerial ability.
kevymartins
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:59 PM
Comment #35And talking about aerial ability he is the tallest player on the pitch most games and I can’t remember him ever scoring a header? And it’s defiantly nothing to do with the service every long ball (Free kick or corner) is aimed at him.
Shadow_Shearer
Dec 13, 2014 at 3:59 PM
Comment #36Jail
I remember last season ppl on this blog stating they seen s.taylor in the cinema, he was so fat he struggled to climb the stairs. They were sayin he lost it long long ago.
weg
Dec 13, 2014 at 4:03 PM
Comment #37Jail,
I woudn’t want to travel 2 miles to spend the day at the metrocentre!
As for more important matters, the match with arsenal could go either way today – which is the case with all of our matches. You never know which newcastle united will turn up!
If we keep to the current game plan, i think we can win, but our players have to be more focussed than ever because Arsenal can be so good sometimes.
Too many times, Pardew has shot himself in the foot especially when things are going well! Unnecessary player changes, overcautious changes to tactics and misjudged substitutions. Lets hope he doesn’t return to that.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-0 Arsenal
toon kk
Dec 13, 2014 at 4:08 PM
Comment #38Kevy
totally agree, Williamson changes Pardews style of play with him used as a target man, he can’t do anything if he gets the ball.
weg
Dec 13, 2014 at 4:12 PM
Comment #39*wouldn’t
Shadow_Shearer
Dec 13, 2014 at 4:18 PM
Comment #40Arsenals attack maybe very strong, but our advantage is that there defence is not that great. Arsenal are there for the taking!!