Newcastle United reject Hatem Ben Arfa poised for Premier League return with Leicester from Paris Saint-Germain
THE French international attacker enjoyed the best season of his career under Claude Puel at Nice is poised for a Premier League return with the new Foxes boss
HATEM BEN ARFA is set for a Premier League return with his former boss Claude Puel at Leicester.
Ex-Newcastle winger Ben Arfa is currently out of favour at Paris Saint-Germain.
However, the France international enjoyed the best season of his career under Puel at Nice two years ago, scoring 17 goals in 34 games.
New Foxes chief Puel has now acclaimed Ben Arfa, and hinted at a January approach for the 30-year-old.
The Frenchman said: "Hatem is someone I appreciate equally as a player and a person.
"For me it's important right now to really get to know my squad, and then I can turn to the transfer window.
"The first thing for me is to look at the players I have, and to respect them, but then we will see.
"I don't have any concerns about Hatem's form.
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"I have met him from time to time, and we have talked.
"I even played alongside him in a variety club charity game last month.
"That was a novelty, and very enjoyable.
"I thought Hatem looked very sharp, despite his difficult situation at PSG.
"He was very fit and at ease with himself.
psgBen Arfa scored 14 goals in 86 matches for the Magpies"Whichever club gets the chance to sign Hatem will do a good piece of business."
Ben Arfa spent four seasons with Newcastle, scoring 14 goals in 86 games, and had a loan spell with Hull in 2014.
He joined PSG from Nice two summers ago, and will be out of contract at the Parc des Princes next year.