According to a report in RMC, Lyon are contemplating bringing in former Magpie Hatem Ben Arfa on a short-term deal. They have not approached the Frenchman yet but are internally debating whether a return to Lyon would be a sound decision.
Here is a tweet from Get French Football News about the report.
Lyon are internally debating the possibility of offering a short-term contract to 32-year-old attacking midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa (RMC) https://t.co/ImJmDNobF4
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) December 20, 2019
Hatem initially joined Lyon from the Clairefontaine Academy in 2003. He made 91 appearances for them with 12 goals and 10 assists before moving to Marseille in 2008.
Lyon, who are down in 8th in Ligue 1, have just lost one of their star players in former-Manchester United winger Memphis Depay. Depay tore his ACL in a 1-0 defeat at Rennes this past weekend. He had scored 14 goals in 18 matches in all competitions.
They tried to bring in German midfielder Julian Draxler on loan from PSG, but that was rejected by the Parisians. PSG would, however, reportedly consider selling the German for around €20m.
It looks as though Lyon could turn to the 32-year-old ex-Newcastle star to fill Depay’s shoes. Ben Arfa has been without a club since being released from Rennes this summer.
The enigmatic Frenchman has been linked to various clubs since his release, even reportedly entering negotiations with a few of them. Some of those include Fiorentina, Nantes, and Fenerbahce.
We would expect that Ben Arfa would jump at the chance to return to Lyon. While the deal is reportedly only a short term one, he could end up ending his career where he started if things were to work out.
28 comments so far
Jib
Dec 20, 2019 at 6:25 PM
Comment #1Ooh I could see us being interested in 26 yo Julian Draxler
He’s only played 6 times for PSG this season he’s had a foot
injury , he’s fit now
At 20m euros a bargain.
His agents are ROGON Joelinton’s representatives
watch this space
toon22 will wet his knickers
Lascelles sells sea shells by the sea shore
Dec 20, 2019 at 6:29 PM
Comment #2Draxler wouldn’t come to us… I’d love to see it but he will play with the big boys, cracking player and a snip at 20m coming into his prime, it hasn’t really worked out for him at PSG
Jib
Dec 20, 2019 at 6:42 PM
Comment #3What a choice !
Tea-time tomorrow
Man City vs Leicester
or
LPool vs Flamengo (BBC)
Ketsbaia9
Dec 20, 2019 at 6:53 PM
Comment #4Man Utd still aren’t safe yet. A defeat against us will put them back in the relegation mix.
Jib
Dec 20, 2019 at 6:56 PM
Comment #5We don’t win Boxing day away fixtures
Jib
Dec 20, 2019 at 6:56 PM
Comment #6🙁
Munster Mag
Dec 20, 2019 at 6:57 PM
Comment #7Spit on jib, nice article lindis. Miggy seems a top top man.
Jib
Dec 20, 2019 at 6:58 PM
Comment #8We got humped 4 – 0 away at Anfield last Boxing day
Jib
Dec 20, 2019 at 7:01 PM
Comment #9Everyone spit on Jib
Ha ha ha
lesh
Dec 20, 2019 at 7:10 PM
Comment #10In
I suggested some weeks ago that the £40m reportedly paid for Joelinton might have included a ‘retention fee’ for his agents.
Though you said ‘watch this space’, if it’s not Draxler (would he really sign for us, to be coached by our world-famous coach, err, what’s his name?), it’ll be another player who Mikeyboy might see a profit in.
toon22
Dec 20, 2019 at 7:43 PM
Comment #11JIB
Lets hope we nab a bargain, im sure Jabba will be sure of a big profit on him
But more likely its just the usual bollix
toon22
Dec 20, 2019 at 7:45 PM
Comment #12As its painfully obvious to everyone
Players we want are only considered if Jabba thinks he can either make a profit on or are in the same bracket as Joe ( who did we pay that money to )
toon22
Dec 20, 2019 at 7:45 PM
Comment #13We wont ever compete or build a team till Jabba is gone
Jib
Dec 20, 2019 at 7:50 PM
Comment #14toon22
Players are only considered if the club thinks they can make a profit on
them
I think that is a general rule of thumb for the majority of PL clubs
ronaldo aarons
Dec 20, 2019 at 8:04 PM
Comment #15Draxler? Always thought he was overrated like, never saw him have a good game.
Not sold on arteta. Don’t particularly like it when ex players go into big jobs like that either and really don’t have a clue why he’s so highly rated when he’s not managed at any level before. When he was linked with us I found the many people excited or wanting him as manager a little odd.
ronaldo aarons
Dec 20, 2019 at 8:05 PM
Comment #16Bit quiet on here past few days.
How do you guys think we’ll play tomorrow and who will be left out?
ASM is going to be a huge miss as he was a big factor in our home performances. And away to be fair but felt he had more actual impact on opposing teams at home.
jane
Dec 20, 2019 at 8:17 PM
Comment #17“55′ – GOAL – Newcastle United Under-23s 2 (Tom Allan) Blackburn Rovers Under-23s 2
The young Magpies are level and what a strike from Allan, who drills a thunderous long range effort into the top left hand corner! ”
https://twitter.com/NUFC
ronaldo aarons
Dec 20, 2019 at 8:25 PM
Comment #18Tom Allan has been in good form for the u23s this season, scored quite a few and been getting a few rave reviews.
Maybe a player that could be an option for the wing?
He is doing what he can on his end, may just need an opportunity or couple sub appearances.
jane
Dec 20, 2019 at 8:30 PM
Comment #19when they played Everton U23 in the cup final last season Allan was the one that caught my eye.
ronaldo aarons
Dec 20, 2019 at 8:44 PM
Comment #20He should maybe get game time in the cup game I guess. From the outside looking in he deserves one.
toon22
Dec 20, 2019 at 9:03 PM
Comment #21JIB
Most clubs re invest said profits in the team, and not buy shops with the cash
Us selling players only benefits Jabba and his tat shops
Its never Jabbas fault
Bills Son Is Back
Dec 20, 2019 at 9:14 PM
Comment #22Someone said earlier that the animosity between the Hull owners and Bruce won’t affect Bowen’s transfer…
I’ll tell you a true story…
When Mick McCarthy was a young up and coming centre half with Barnsley, Arthur Cox was desperate to sign him and McCarthy was dead keen to come.
But, Barnsley’s manager at the time, ex Leeds wing half Norman Hunter told McCarthy the last team he would be transferred to was NUFC.
Why?
Two reasons, Cox was Sunderland’s coach when they beat Leeds in the FA Cup final in 1973 and he took the P out of the Leeds players after the final whistle, that didn’t go down well.
But worse, when Hunter got his first manager’s job as a rookie at Barnsley, Cox who was a wily manager at Chesterfield, stitched Hunter up by selling him a young hugely talented Scottish mid for £30,000 (a decent fee in those days) who owed big money to the heavy boys in Glasgow. Cox knew the lad was in big trouble and, just a few weeks after signing for Barnsley, the lad took flight and never returned to the club. Hunter found out Cox knew the craic and that cemented his hatred for him. I won’t mention the lad’s name, he never played pro football again and was tragically found dead in a hotel room before he was 30.
McCarthy went to Man City and we signed Glen Roeder instead.
I won’t say how I know this, but it is true.
Jib
Dec 20, 2019 at 9:14 PM
Comment #23Fabian Schär is 28 today
Happy Birthday
toon22
Dec 20, 2019 at 9:17 PM
Comment #24The players Jabba cant sell is fine as we pick up the 5 years + wages
He simply dont care about the club, team or fans
Essex Geordie Bill
Dec 20, 2019 at 9:18 PM
Comment #25Jane
When they played Everton U23 in the cup final last season Allan was the one that caught my eye.
You shouldn’t sit so close to the touch line!!
Seriously though, I’ve said a couple of times in the last few days he should get an outing in the squad.
Big Bruce Stars.
Dec 20, 2019 at 9:44 PM
Comment #26Munster I don’t understand this “mackem” thing you say I’m advertising. Out of regard for your liking of red and white south American football team strips I thought you’d appreciate your hero donned in the Estudiantes shirt? No? Oh ok.
Nicky the ball tosser
Dec 20, 2019 at 10:05 PM
Comment #27We need to play higher up the pitch. Certainly need to have Jonjo, Almiron and Joelinton, if he starts ahead of Atsu in place St Max, playing between the lines in the top third where Perez did so much good work for us.
Not sure why we can’t do this. Back 3 and wing backs should actually allow us to take the game to the opposition more than we do, without being too open at the back.
Play a slightly higher line, and don’t drop off so much before we press.
I must be missing something, because to me this seems the obvious way for us to play at home, and we don’t really do it, we back off too much, don’t we?
Nicky the ball tosser
Dec 20, 2019 at 10:19 PM
Comment #28The way we played in the final 30 v Southampton. That’s how we need to go about it from the opening whistle.