Reds target French playmaker

Liverpool are considering a move for Marseille winger Hatem Ben Arfa as Roy Hodgson looks to secure some last minute additions to his squad before the Premier League season kicks off.

The speedy intelligent attacker has been linked with a loan move to Newcastle United in recent weeks but the Anfield boss is hoping to lure the 23 year old to Merseyside on a permanent deal.

The adaptable French international is rumoured to be surplus to requirements at the Stade Velodrome and Didier Deschamps is openly looking to offload the player either on a loan deal to help cut their wage bill in order to fund new additions or if possible on a permanent deal away from the Ligue 1 champions.

Roy Hodgson is looking for more creative attacking options ahead of the new season and is known to be an admirer of the former Lyon man and may well be lining up a significant bid for the £12m rated Clairefontaine graduate.

The skilful youngster is a great attacking weapon where his speed and trickery help to create a wealth of goals as well as being able to score crucial goals from midfield. Hatem just missed out on the French World Cup squad and is looking for a move that can help force himself into Laurent Blanc's thinking. He did manage to get himself into the upcoming squad but that is more to do with the fact that the World Cup squad have been suspended than any change in thinking in the FFF.

Hodgson may well feel that Ben Arfa would be more interested in moving permanently to the Premier League instead of accepting a loan deal at St James' Park and if the Merseyside club can find the funds for such a bid it may well prove a successful one.

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