Available for free, would Benitez consider re-signing ex-Newcastle talent Hatem Ben Arfa? Fans seem undecided

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Former Newcastle ace Hatem Ben Arfa is reportedly available for free.

According to the Daily Mail, Paris Saint-Germain will allow playmaker Hatem Ben Arfa to leave the club on a free transfer in 2018, prompting interest from Premier League sides.

Ben Arfa, 30, rebuilt his career with a stunning spell at Nice during the 2015-16 season, smashing 17 goals and six goals in Ligue 1, earning himself a big move to PSG on a free transfer.

The playmaker was seen as a smart addition to the PSG side, but he has failed to make any sort of impression with Unai Emery’s men, making just five league starts for the Parisians, with no league or Champions League appearances to his name this term.

Now, having been completely frozen out of the PSG side, the Daily Mail report that Ben Arfa will be allowed to leave the Parc des Princes for free in January, with Premier League teams now interested.

Whilst no teams are named, Ben Arfa may find himself linked with a return to Newcastle United, where he scored 14 times in 86 games before being released from his contract in January 2015.

Ben Arfa is a mercurial talent with remarkable skill, and Newcastle fans saw that on a regular basis, and with the current Magpies side struggling for creativity at times this season, there may be a role for Ben Arfa as a No. 10 at St. James’ Park.

However, his attitude and work rate were regularly brought into question at Newcastle, and given Rafael Benitez’s fairly pragmatic approach, it seems unlikely that he would sacrifice solidity in order to get the talented yet frustrating Ben Arfa into his side – even if he is available for nothing.

Newcastle fans have been taking to Twitter to offer their view on a possible move for Ben Arfa, with fans seemingly split; some believe that Ben Arfa would be a bargain on a free transfer, and a move would be the ideal accompaniment to Mike Ashley leaving the club.

However, others don’t think Benitez would be interested in such a player, and don’t even want to see Ben Arfa come back almost three years since he was let go.