Report: Hatem Ben Arfa interested in Leicester City move?

Paris Saint-Germain’s Hatem Ben Arfa is interested in a move to Leicester City, according to multiple sources in France.

Ben Arfa joined PSG from OGC Nice in 2016 and has since struggled to get playing time under his belt. The Frenchman only played five league games last season and hasn’t featured at all in 2017/18, meaning that the club clearly doesn’t want him.

Where the Leicester City link comes from is his relationship with Claude Puel. The Leicester City boss brought the best out of him at OGC Nice during the 2015/16 season, as Hatem Ben Arfa scored a staggering 18 goals as well as racking up six assists in 37 appearances across all competitions.

According to French Radio’s RMC Sport, there are as many as three sources, who, though differing in their understanding of the situation, did confirm Claude Puel’s interest in the PSG wantaway.

As per one source:

"“They are very close, Claude never hid that the use of Hatem at PSG was not good and he would like to work with him again”."

Another source says:

"“This is a possibility that would interest Hatem, but we are at the stage of speculation”."

The third source said:

"“We are very far away. First Claude must try to raise the bar in Leicester, then he can think about what will happen in the market. But he likes Hatem, it’s not a novelty”."

Shall Leicester City get a chance to sign Hatem Ben Arfa, there’s no doubt that it’s an opportunity that Claude Puel will take with both hands.

Ben Arfa is a truly exciting player capable of tearing the best defences to shreds when on song, and for the foxes to have a such a man playing in a central role, or even behind Jamie Vardy, is an absolute treat.

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With Riyad Mahrez expected to leave in January regardless of Claude Puel’s seduction, Hatem Ben Arfa may be the perfect replacement. At the moment, however, there’s some way to go before this dream becomes a reality.