L'Equipe Still Talking Up Ben Arfa Move

[CraigDoyle]

They've been claim it could be on for the best part of a week but unfortunately my French is very poor and I'm struggling to get any solid detail out of their articles.

What I think I understand is that he isn't first choice as Deschamps at Marseille prefers to play someone else and Ben Arfa now feels he's at the stage of his career where he needs to feature regularly in a big league. Apparently he joined Marseille from Lyon for 12m euros a couple of years back but Marseille are aware that they won't get that for him.

Obviously there's a catch here and you all know what it is. He has a massive chip on his shoulder. His attitude is what saw him out the door at Lyon and I imagine that is what has him on the move again. Werder Bremen are also supposed to be interested but like us they aren't sure about his attitude therefore seem only to be willing to offer a loan deal at the moment. It wouldn't surprise me if we were in the same boat with some sort of option to buy should things work out.

Hughton of course is denying all knowledge.

[trophy4toon]

agreed Craig, can't see us paying £5 million for anyone, but then many clubs are in the same position and not prepared to gamble on expensive players with attitude like this.

So a loan deal then maybe !!

[Jim]

Hughton has said he has money to spend.

As long he believes he's getting good value Ashley will back him, and £5m for a player like Ben Arfa despite his reputation as a troublemaker. If he played well for a season or two in the Premier League without any big controversy we would probably be able to shift him on for a good profit.

[Jim]

Sky reported yesterday that Ben Arfa had travelled to Hoffenheim for talks but this morning there have been rumours in the Italian media this morning that he's decided on Newcastle. His agent said a while ago that he wanted to play in England but there was also interest from Everton, AC Milan and Parma. Perhaps he realises that he's most likely to get first team football at Newcastle. No mention of whether it's a loan or a transfer, though.

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail is reporting today that Tom Cleverley will be joining Wigan on loan.

[CraigDoyle]

The general rumours are that the player himself does not want to go to Hoffenheim but would prefer to come here. The reason is that he believes the Premiership is the biggest platform available for him to play on and that's where he wants to be. The club though are not willing to match Hoffenheim's offer which is believed to be in the region of £8M. The money being put up is quite simply ludicrous despite the potential talent involved. Nobody is sure how he'll adapt to a bigger league or a more physically demanding one. Therefore our proposal is that we pay a nominal fee up front and take him on loan for a year with an agreement that we will buy him should he we feel he is up to it. Naturally Marseille aren't overly keen on that arrangement when they can shift him for £8M.

[Jim]

We apparently offered 500k up front for a loan and first option deal but Marseille are holding out to try to sell him straight off. Everything that I've read suggests that the deal is 8m euro rather than 8m pounds, so roughly £6.5m. I don't think that that is ludicrous for a player of his obvious talent. Of course there is a chance that he wont adapt to the English or German league but that's a risk with any transfer from overseas.

[CraigDoyle]

£6.5M is still a lot of money when you don't have any. Especially when you are placing it on a bit of a wildcard who is very temperamental.

[CraigDoyle]

Well this one is rumbling on and on and on and on.

It seemed a deal had been reached but apparently Marseille and in particular the president are claiming that the money being offered up by Newcastle is not enough and the offer is not serious.

The player, who was under the belief that Marseille didn't want him and hence why they started offering him around has now decided he's had enough of his current club and opted to depart from training yesterday. To further dig in his heels he didn't show this morning either. Rather unprofessional but perhaps he is just following the unprofessional example being set by his club and the the way they are handling him in front of the French media.

Marseille are now trying to offload their top striker to Fenerbahce instead and should they be able to do so then there who be no need to force Ben Arfa out the door. Apparently the whole issue is down to reducing the wage bill so they can get another striker on board. One player out, one player in.

Now a photo has been posted that suggests Ben Arfa was at Newcastle Airport earlier today.

So where are we with this deal? Is it on or is it off? Is Ben Arfa here? Does he have permission to be here? Are Marseille selling him? Is he coming on loan? What about the Niang to Fenerbahce deal?

Absolute mess. The only thing looking good in all of this is Newcastle United. Chris Hughton is actively throwing water on the flames in a bid to distance ourselves from the player in the press. It should also be noted that the Ben Arfa departure is not something new. This was spoken about half way through last season when he fell out with manager Didier Deschamps. It is believed that while Deschamps is seen as a good manager he is also a volatile character and when he doesn't get his way he will pick up his ball and go home. Should make for an interesting few days off the field.

[trophy4toon]

I never have really been able to understand the logic of this episode.

If Marseille want rid of Ben Arfa why would they not just sell him for the talked of £6 million.

Newcastle don't want to sign him permanently but rumoured to be offering 800 euro's for a loan deal.

How would our offer if that is true benefit either Ben Arfa or Marseille.

So in my view Marseille are just talking us up to raise the price to sell him elsewhere.

Unless I'm missing something ??

[CraigDoyle]

You are missing the whole player power element. While Marseille could accept a fee for him, the player himself still has to sign a contract at the other club and at the moment he isn't going to do that.

The player himself clearly does not want to go and play in the Bundesliga otherwise I'm sure he'd be off. Ben Arfa has decided that the Premier League is the best division on offer to him and the platform on which he can showcase his abilities. If he comes on loan then at the very least he is able to put himself in the shop window. In a way that benefits everyone as Marseille can have him playing without having to deal with him, Newcastle get another body in and the player gets to play where he wants to play.

The problem is all down to the massive transfer fees and salaries that these footballers are on. They are no longer employees so much as assets and clubs can't afford to lose players for nothing. Unfortunately the players are in a position where they can just act unprofessional and refuse to 'work' in order to force the hand of their club.

[trophy4toon]

Looks like it's over then

as Werder Bremen look set to sign Ben Arfa as they have moved quickly to replace Mesut Ozil, who moved to Real Madrid this week

http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/transfer-rumours/2010-08-19/toon-turn-rosenborg-ace-after-ben-arfa-snub

I think I'd rather have Per Ciljan Skjelbred though, see next post .......................

[CraigDoyle]

Lewis Rutledge:

Werder Bremen sporting director Klaus Allofs has ruled out a move for Marseille winger Hatem Ben Arfa.

That was on the Sky Sports Transfer Clockwatch around 17:30 this evening.

I say we sign Ben Arfa for £5M, then splash out £3M on Skjelbred and then dip into the coffers and bring in Santa Cruz from Man City as well. I may also have taken a blow to the head at the tennis earlier this evening.

[trophy4toon]

The deal is still not dead yet. He obviously wants to go somewhere but not sure where yet

Marseille deny Ben Arfa deal
French champions insist agreement has not yet been reached
Last updated: 25th August 2010   
 
Marseille sporting director Jose Anigo insists no deal has yet been agreed for midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa.

The winger, who joined the French champions two years ago, has fallen out with the club's hierarchy and is desperate to move on this summer.

Reports suggest Liverpool are the latest club to be chasing Ben Arfa's signature, and the Reds could swoop for the winger should Javier Mascherano make the move to Barcelona.

Newcastle have also been heavily linked with 23-year-old, and are understood to have proposed a loan deal with the option to buy subject to the playmaker making 25 appearances for the Magpies.

Another club to express interest is Bundesliga outfit Werder Bremen, who are expected to make an offer on Wednesday, but while anticipating the player's exit, Anigo insists no deal has yet been reached.

"He has a choice between two or three clubs," Anigo told L'Equipe.

"But we also have to find an agreement with the club, which is not the case so far."

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_6334885,00.html

[CraigDoyle]

French publication RMC are now saying the player is due in Newcastle tomorrow to finalise terms of a loan deal. Marseille have reportedly accepted a loan deal agreement with a must buy after 25 games stipulation. The president of Marseille who seems to be a bit of clown is also saying that Ben Arfa is closer to moving to Newcastle than Werder Bremen at this stage. It seems Werder are the only other real interested party but the player would much prefer to play in the Premier League.