Wenger wants Newcastle playmaker at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is considering a surprise bid for Newcastle United winger Hatem Ben Arfa this summer, CaughtOffside understands.
Read more Arsenal news here!
Wenger has been following his compatriot’s career since Ben Arfa’s time with Lyon and considered a bid for the flamboyant playmaker before he joined Newcastle from Marseille in summer 2010.
The Frenchman boss has previously resisted moving for Ben Arfa because of concerns over his temperament and consistency but Wenger may throw caution to the wind with a bid this summer as he looks for quality without breaking the bank.
Ben Arfa has not been a regular for the Toon this season and last played 90 minutes in the 3-0 defeat to Sunderland in early February.
The playmaker’s current deal expires at the end of next season and he would be available at around £7m this summer.
Wenger is confident he can unlock Ben Arfa’s undoubted ability and believes he would fit in to Arsenal’s slick midfield, while Magpies owner Mike Ashley has proved happy to sell the club’s star players in the past.
SEE ALSO: The Fastest Players on Fifa 14