Arsenal join chase for Newcastle and AC Milan target
Arsenal have reportedly joined the chase for Hatem Ben Arfa of Olympique Marseille, a target for their English Premier League rivals Newcastle United as well as Serie A giants AC Milan.
With Didier Deschamps, manager of the French Ligue 1 champions, saying that the 23-year-old is set to leave the club, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is said to be readying a bid of the £12m-rated winger. Having been refused the chance to move to the EPL, Ben Arfa decided to boycott training in an attempt to force the club’s hand.
'Unusual' decision
Deschamps told reporters that Ben Arfa’s decision was “unusual”. He added that: "I cannot talk him out of his wish to leave but to not train, with respect to the club and his team-mates, for me that is something unthinkable. Even if he doesn't want to speak to me, that is not problem. But he can still leave if he trains with us."
Wenger has long been interested in a player who has won the French league title five times in his short career – including four championships with Olympique Lyonnais before making the move to Marseille two years ago.
At this point, Arsenal appear to be frontrunners to sign the player as Marseille look to sell the player rather than allow him to leave on loan – the only option Newcastle and Milan have in their bid to recruit Ben Arfa. Werder Bremen are also in the market for a creative player in the middle of the pitch after selling Mesut Ozil to Real Madrid and are reportedly ready to test Marseille’s resolve with a bid of around eight million euros.
As well as enjoying a hugely successful club career, Ben Arfa has featured at various age levels for France. He has been capped eight times by the senior team and has scored two goals.
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