Serie A giants AS Rom are plotting a £8m transfer swoop for Newcastle United’s Hatem Ben Arfa in the summer, reports Forza Italian Football.
It is believed that the Frenchman who is also a long term transfer target for Arsenal is finally on his way out of Tyneside in the summer after a injury ravaged campaign.
Ben Arfa’s contract expires in 2015 with the Magpies and Rudi Garcia’s side have made no secrets of their desire to add to their squad ahead of next season’s Champions League. Garcia has previously known the 27 year old during their time in the French Ligue 1.
Serie A giants AS Roma chase out-of-favour #NUFC playmaker Hatem Ben Arfa #HBA https://t.co/NB9wa3WT6h pic.twitter.com/XWQkP1gdkU
— The Chronicle (@EveningChron) April 25, 2014
Arsenal have also been linked with Ben Arfa for quite some time with Arsene Wenger being an admirer of the winger striker. Arsenal are in the market for bringing in reinforcements to their woeful attacking options and the Toons star would fit the bill despite having a poor attitude off the pitch.
Newcastle’s management team have lost patience with the dazzling attacking forward, whose form and fitness have dipped since the beginning of the season. He was not even in the squad to face Swansea last weekend thanks to a dead leg and subsequently returned to France after being banished by manager Alan Pardew.
A Toon source said: “Alan Pardew and his management team had a lot of soul searching to do before they made the decision to send Ben Arfa back to France. But it was a decision they felt they had to make for the good of the whole football club and the rest of the first team squad.”
However the controversial midfielder has declared himself fit and might face Arsenal at the Emirates on Monday night.
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