Monaco have joined the race to sign Ben Arfa.
AS Monaco are the latest team to show interest in Newcastle United winger Hatem Ben Arfa, with the Frenchman also being linked with a move to Liverpool or Tottenham, reports the Daily Express.
Newcastle are unwilling to let the 26-year-old leave easily as he is one of their key players, but with billionaire Monaco owner Dmitry Rybolovlev prepared to pay £10m the Magpies could be convinced to sell.
Ben Afra impressed many with his performances during the 2011/12 season, when he helped the north-east side reach an unexpected high of fifth position in the Premier League – a place ahead of Chelsea.
The France international scored six times and assisted on five occasions during that campaign, although injury prevented the winger from competing as much as he probably would have liked.
Yet this year has been more disappointing for club and player alike, as Alan Pardew’s side were embroiled in a relegation scrap and Ben Arfa failed to find the form from his first full season in the English top flight.
The former-Marseille man did manage to net four league goals though, including a standout individual effort against Aston Villa.
Ben Arfa cost the Magpies £5.3m in January 2011 so an offer to double their money in a little under two-and-a-half years would certainly be tempting.
However, the winger’s return to Ligue 1 would see the new might of the Principality club affect the transfer proceedings of Liverpool and Spurs, who were both hoping to strengthen their squad with Ben Arfa.
Monaco have already proved their seriousness this summer with the high profile signatures of FC Porto duo Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez for a combined fee of £60m, as well as landing Ricardo Carvalho and the transfers of Radamel Falcao and Victor Valdes expected to be completed very soon.
COMMENTS