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Liverpool have already offered a contract to transformed Premier League flop Hatem Ben Arfa, claims French publication RMC Sport.
The report says we’ve already made our move for the 29-year-old, who’s available on a free transfer this summer via the Bosman ruling. As it stands, any club outside of France is allowed to freely approach the Nice forward with a view to signing him for nothing on the expiration of his contract – in the same manner we secured Schalke’s Joel Matip.
There is competition, however, for Ben Arfa’s services. RMC Sport claim AC Milan have offered a contract too, while Atletico Madrid and PSG are considering doing so soon.
Ben Arfa is no longer the sulking figure we remember from his time in England. Despite showing enormous promise at times with Newcastle, the Frenchman fell out with Alan Pardew and flopped when shipped off to Hull City – infamously going awol at one point much to Steve Bruce’s confusion.
This term, Ben Arfa has been undeniably one of the best players in Ligue 1, scoring 17 goals in total and putting Nice in contention for a spot in next season’s Champions League. RMC Sport claim we’ve scouted him plenty of times, including Nice’s 3-0 win over Rennes in which he scored a truly astonishing hat-trick.
Ben Arfa has been playing as a no.10 predominantly, but also as a false-9, happy to drift out to the right so can cut back inside on his wicked left-foot.
Bar Sheyi Ojo, Liverpool have no left-footed attacking midfielders, and he could fit perfectly into our 4-2-3-1 formation on the right-wing or as the no.10. He’s very skilful, quick, runs with the ball and has proven an ability this term to score goals.
To be a success at Liverpool, he’d need to learn to press and harry opposing teams when not in possession, but he’s got the natural fitness to do so – as well as possessing magic feet.
Fans who haven’t seen much of Ben Arfa this term will read this with scepticism, but apart from perhaps Zlatan Ibrahimovic, he’s been Ligue 1’s best player and is finally fulfilling his stupendous talent – so much so – he’ll head to Euro 2016 this summer as part of the France squad.
Dimitri Payet came to England age 29 having dominated Ligue 1 and shone, and we think a player with Ben Arfa’s outrageous ability could do the same.
On a free, offered maybe a two year contract, this deal, if genuine, makes sense to us.