Liverpool hope to persuade £5m Newcastle United winger

Liverpool are reportedly considering a move to bring Hatem Ben Arfa to Anfield and will attempt to beat Newcastle United to sealing the French winger on a permanent deal.

The 23 year old is currently on loan at St James' Park but is sidelined with a long term injury after breaking his leg against Manchester City early in the season and Roy Hodgson is hoping to pip the Magpies to securing a deal to bring the Marseille man to Anfield in the summer.

Alan Pardew's side are hoping to seal a £5m deal to bring the French international to the club on a permanent deal but Liverpool may hope to be able to persuade the speedy winger to move to Merseyside but clearly any hope of doing so would depend very much on what kind of finish Hodgson can get out of his team.

If Liverpool have secured European football come May and the Toon Army have not then perhaps Hodgson can convince the talent flair player to turn his back on Newcastle United.

Ben Arfa looked very impressive before a Nigel De Jong tackle left him out injured but the Clairefontaine academy graduate is expected to be back by mid February. Liverpool had been linked with a move for the player during the summer before he sealed a season long loan switch to the north-east.

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