Ben Arfa set to drop down French league

FORMER Newcastle United star Hatem Ben Arfa could make the drop down to the second tier of French football.

That’s according to Le Havre president Vincent Volpe, who has confirmed the Ligue 2 side have not given up hope on signing the 32-year-old.

Ben Arfa – who enjoyed spells in English football with United and Hull City – remains a free agent after leaving Rennes at the end of last season.

Speaking to MaLigue2 via Get Football News France, the Le Havre president confirmed discussions have taken place with the attacker.

Ben Arfa is believed to have stated his desire to “quit France”, but Volpe remains hopeful he could be persuaded to join the club, who currently sit sixth in Ligue 2.

The Le Havre president said: “We have thought about him. I have had contacts with him. He wanted to quit France. I did not share his opinion in that regard. He loves [Le Havre manager] Paul Le Guen and the feeling is mutual.

“It is not impossible that he continues to play in France, even in

Ligue 2 with us. I must admit that it is more difficult now, as the season is passing by.

“There are contacts, there have been contacts. I have respect for him and I like him a lot.”

Ben Arfa (above) initially joined the Magpies on loan in August 2010 before making the move from Marseille permanent in January the following year.

The talented forward enjoyed his best spell in black-and-white under Alan Pardew as part of a rampant attack with Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse.

But Ben Arfa soon fell out of favour, and was loaned to Hull City on deadline day in the summer of 2014, and was released in January the following year.

The Frenchman rebuilt his career with Nice and enjoyed a productive spell at Rennes last season, but his unhappy time at Paris SaintGermain remains subject to ongoing legal proceedings after being frozen out.