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Hatem update
Newcastle's pursuit of French international midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa (pictured) looks a little less likely to succeed, given the latest updates from his current employer, Olympique Marseille and from French sources.
Hopes had been high on Monday that a deal would be concluded, despite the two clubs still haggling over the level of fee payable for a season-long loan at SJP.
French newspaper L'Equipe wrote:
Hatem Ben Arfa is undoubtedly very close to discovering the joys of the Premier League. The former Lyon player has in effect been authorised by Marseilles to negotiate with the directors of the Magpies for a loan of one year with an option to buy according to the club cited by Agence France Presse.
The information was later denied by Jean-Claude Dassier (Chairman) and Didier Deschamps (coach). The two clubs have agreed a loan of one season for €1.2m, together with an option to buy at the end of the season. The amount of the option has not been revealed.
However, Monday evening then brought the following comments from Dassier on the official OM website:
"We have a meeting every Monday. It was a professional meeting at the heart of the transfer window. We had to sit down and make sure we all knew where we are and everything went well. We made a certain number of decisions but you have to be discreet during the transfer window. Our desire is to reinforce the squad.
"Newcastle United are interested (in Hatem Ben Arfa) but for the moment we have not reached an agreement, so we aren’t talking about it. We are working with the representatives of Newcastle and with Hatem Ben Arfa."
Perhaps significantly, Dassier then went on to confirm that recent press speculation of a move for Seville striker Luis Fabiano was accurate - but refused to comment on the progress of that transfer.
Other sources in France have claimed that in order for the Fabiano deal to go through, there would have to be outward movement from OM to balance the books.
And while that was expected to have been Ben Arfa, were a proposed deal taking striker Mamadou Niang to Turkish side Fenerbahce go through, removing Ben Arfa from the OM wage bill wouldn't be a necessity.
The player is claimed to be keen on moving to SJP have expressed a preference to play in England, rather than take up offers from German and Portuguese sides.
23 year-old Ben Arfa should win his eighth full international cap, having been named in the French squad for a friendly against Norway in Oslo on Wednesday.
(Thanks to the NUFC.com anglophiles for updates)
This will also mean that Newcastle will be less willing to let Kazenga leave now
Hatem update
Newcastle's pursuit of French international midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa (pictured) looks a little less likely to succeed, given the latest updates from his current employer, Olympique Marseille and from French sources.
Hopes had been high on Monday that a deal would be concluded, despite the two clubs still haggling over the level of fee payable for a season-long loan at SJP.
French newspaper L'Equipe wrote:
Hatem Ben Arfa is undoubtedly very close to discovering the joys of the Premier League. The former Lyon player has in effect been authorised by Marseilles to negotiate with the directors of the Magpies for a loan of one year with an option to buy according to the club cited by Agence France Presse.
The information was later denied by Jean-Claude Dassier (Chairman) and Didier Deschamps (coach). The two clubs have agreed a loan of one season for €1.2m, together with an option to buy at the end of the season. The amount of the option has not been revealed.
However, Monday evening then brought the following comments from Dassier on the official OM website:
"We have a meeting every Monday. It was a professional meeting at the heart of the transfer window. We had to sit down and make sure we all knew where we are and everything went well. We made a certain number of decisions but you have to be discreet during the transfer window. Our desire is to reinforce the squad.
"Newcastle United are interested (in Hatem Ben Arfa) but for the moment we have not reached an agreement, so we aren’t talking about it. We are working with the representatives of Newcastle and with Hatem Ben Arfa."
Perhaps significantly, Dassier then went on to confirm that recent press speculation of a move for Seville striker Luis Fabiano was accurate - but refused to comment on the progress of that transfer.
Other sources in France have claimed that in order for the Fabiano deal to go through, there would have to be outward movement from OM to balance the books.
And while that was expected to have been Ben Arfa, were a proposed deal taking striker Mamadou Niang to Turkish side Fenerbahce go through, removing Ben Arfa from the OM wage bill wouldn't be a necessity.
The player is claimed to be keen on moving to SJP have expressed a preference to play in England, rather than take up offers from German and Portuguese sides.
23 year-old Ben Arfa should win his eighth full international cap, having been named in the French squad for a friendly against Norway in Oslo on Wednesday.
(Thanks to the NUFC.com anglophiles for updates)
This will also mean that Newcastle will be less willing to let Kazenga leave now